Who is Chris Licht? New CNN boss could tighten screws on uber-liberal super-anchors
More changes are coming to CNN as network CEO Chris Licht plans to give CNN's polarizing personalities an opportunity to prove they can fit into the network's new culture. This latest development comes after the network's tone became more partisan during the Donald Trump presidency under former CEO Jeff Zucker.
Licht, who joined CNN in May, after Zucker left the network in the wake of a scandal, wants to uphold the network's apparent values of unbiased reporting. This means "respectful interviews that don't feel like PR stunts," as per the reports by Axios. And for producers and bookers, Licht wants to see programming decisions "focused on nuance, not noise."
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Jim Acosta and Brian Stelter, who became the face of the network’s liberal shift, engaged in frequent criticism of and clashes with Republicans during former President Donald Trump’s time in office. As per the reports, Licht does not plan to change the tone of the network's primetime shows but does want to ensure partisan voices don't dominate programming in a harmful way.
Licht, who replaced the former CNN president following his abrupt resignation earlier this year, is working towards leading an overhaul of the left-leaning network’s operations after the merger with new parent company Warner Bros Discovery. A month into his tenure, Licht is starting to leave his mark on the 24-hour news network.
The 50-year-old is best known as the showrunner and executive producer of ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,’ as well as CBS's executive vice president of special programming. He also has a unique connection with CNN. His wife, Jenny Blanco, spent a decade at the network, first as a producer on 'Anderson Cooper 360' and later as director of talent recruitment and development.
Changes in the organization
Former CNN leader Jeff Zucker abruptly departed in February, this year, after disclosing his relationship with Chief Marketing Officer Allison Gollust, who also left the company. WarnerMedia then merged with Discovery in April, prompting the swift elimination of streaming service CNN+ and its leader, Andrew Morse.
CNN digital editorial chief Meredith Artley announced her departure in May, as reported by Variety. She will be replaced by Marcus Mabry, who has been senior vice president of CNN Digital’s content strategy and global programming, on an interim basis.
