By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-01-23 20:46:46 | Updated at 2025-01-24 00:41:56
4 hours ago
Furious CNN staffers have rounded on their CEO Mark Thompson over mass layoffs which also saw star anchor Jim Acosta publicly humiliated.
'Honestly, this place is such a mess,' an anonymous on-air personality told The Independent after the roughly 200 firings affecting CNN's TV division. 'I'd actually be relieved if any decisions had a rationale behind them,' they added. Even one like that.'
Another staffer, described 'a CNN employee', claimed the man behind the lay-offs, former New York Times President Mark Thompson, is out of touch, saying, 'He gave the least inspiring remarks about [the] layoffs that I've ever heard' on Thursday.
'[They were] just so tone deaf and insensitive to people who are getting cut,' he said of words conveyed to those manning the network's Manhattan office that morning at a staff meeting.
Afterwards, a memo detailing the firings was sent out. Behind closed doors, Thompson insisted the hundreds of cuts were 'proportionally, a relatively small number,' prompting the response.
Meanwhile, another casualty of the cuts appears to be longtime host Jim Acosta, who, while not shown the door, lost his hallowed 10am CNN Newsroom spot because of Thompson's long-in-the works restructuring plan, which gave way to the layoffs.
The hour will now go to Wolf Blitzer, one of the few on-air personalities with a longer tenure than anti-MAGA star Acosta, and Pamela Brown - a move that will see Acosta's name stripped from the show's title.
Acosta has reportedly been offered a graveyard midnight slot despite strong ratings. But the humiliating way his demotion was leaked to the public before the announcement has likely infuriated him, with the LA Times reporting that Acosta is now considering all options.
Several of CNN's staffers reportedly blamed their boss for the wave of layoffs seen Thursday, framing them as random and insensitive
A casualty of the cuts appears to be longtime host Jim Acosta, who, while not shown the door, lost his hallowed 10am CNN Newsroom spot because of CNN CEO Mark Thompson's long-in-the works restructuring plan, which included the roughly 200 layoffs
Acosta often found himself at odds with Donald Trump during the latter's presidency, now revived after the events of November.
Aside from a digital-first model, Thompson is demanding stars like Acosta tone-down their anti-Trump asides - something the latter has, so far, has seemingly ignored.
On the set of CNN's Newsroom, he has continued to fact-check the president even after Thompson's stern talk Sunday afternoon, first reported by former CNN Media Reporter Oliver Darcy's Status newsletter.
On Wednesday, with the layoffs just on the horizon, Acosta again engaged in his now trademark lean-forward style of journalism - one that had been on full display during his well-know spars with Trump within the East Room of the White House.
There, he publicly chided Republican lawmaker Tim Burchett for refusing to 'take a stand' on President Donald Trump’s January 6 blanket pardons - urging him to 'Say [you denounce them]!', in what amounted to a politicized argument.
'The changes we’re announcing today are part of an ongoing response by this great news organization to profound shifts in the way audiences in America consume news,' Thompson would write in a memo a day later, laying the layoffs bare.
'It’s the early days, but we’ve already established that there’s immense demand for it not just in America but around the world,' he added, referencing a series of new subscription-driven ventures meant to address waning viewership.
Execs also detailed a shuffle that he admitted will affect the station's entire TV schedule, while naming stars set to move. However, while mentioning big names like Jake Tapper, Blitzer, and ex-NPR host Audie Cornish, Acosta's was noticeably absent.
Acosta, seen here in the foreground, often found himself at odds with Donald Trump during the latter's first term
Aside from a digital-first model, Thompson is demanding stars like Acosta tone-down their Trump reporting - something the latter has, so far, has seemingly ignored
On the set of CNN's Newsroom Wednesday, with the layoffs just on the horizon, Acosta again engaged in his now trademark lean-forward style of journalist - one that had been on full display during his well-know spars with Trump
Instead, that was said of the 53-year-old was that he will forfeit his 10am timeslot, seemingly without an hour to go to.
This has sparked a storm of speculation, and a series of steady reports garnered by insight from insiders about the anchor's fate.
Fox News on Thursday reported that Acosta is 'getting hosed' inside CNN's offices over his 'shocking' demotion.
An insider told the station - who for 20 years has been the top dog in cable news - that accepting a midnight-to-2am slot is his 'only path forward' at the network. That remains to be seen.
Such a move, though. would see him cast to an hour many have referred to as the 'Siberia' of cable news, competing with late night hosts as opposed to journalists.
CNN is said to be trying to sweeten the deal by reminding Acosta that he'll be on screen during prime time for west coast viewers.
A network spokesperson, meanwhile, would only confirm CNN is 'in active discussions with [Acosta] about a new time slot and will have more information to share soon.'
In the meantime, Acosta continues to man his typical timeslot, half a day removed from the graveyard shift.
Pictured, 30 Hudson Yards, where staffers in CNN's Manhattan office are reportedly frustrated
He will likely do so until March, when the lineup changes will go into effect. At that time, Jake Tapper’s The Lead will shift later in the day, from 5pm to 7pm ET.
The newly created Blitzer and Brown program - stylized as The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer and Pamela Brown - will air for two hours, starting at 10 am ET, CNN said.
CNN This Morning, meanwhile, will lose an hour to become a one-hour show, hosted by Cornish at 6am ET. Kasie Hunt, currently the host CNN This Morning, is moving to afternoons to host The Arena.
Thompson was brought in to address declining numbers at both the Times and BBC also revealed another digital venture set to come later this year - a subscription product surrounding 'lifestyle'-related content.
'This is a moment where the digital story feels like an existential question,' he told the Times Thursday, after leading or almost eight years.
'If we do not follow the audiences to the new platforms with real conviction and scale, our future prospects will not be good.'
