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CNN has fired Jeremy Piven doppelganger, Chris Cillizza. [1]

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Date: 2022-12-01

It’s so hard to monetize cable news sound bites. But as Chris Licht says. “reimagining our workflows and aligning our staffing, investments and focus around three key strategic priorities: programming, newsgathering and digital.” Like the era ending of live CNN Headline News Chris Cillizza will likely replace David Brooks at the NPR mediocrity desk for point/counterpoint.

CNN’s cost-cutting efforts are expected to have significant effects on the cable network HLN, according to four people familiar with the matter, with potential ramifications for one of the nation’s longest-running morning programs.

HLN, the cable network once known as CNN Headline News, is home to a bevy of true-crime series, endless showings of “Forensic Files,” and “Morning Express with Robin Meade,” which features a host who has been at the network since 2001. Now, all of that is under the microscope. In addition, a number of popular correspondents and journalists were terminated from the Warner Bros. Discovery backed outlet Thursday.

CNN will no longer produce live programs for HLN, according to one of these people, and will simulcast “CNN This Morning” in place of “Morning Express,” the A.M. news program that takes up most of HLN’s daytime schedule. HLN’s true-crime programming will be placed under the aegis of Warner Bros. Discovery executive Kathleen Finch, and made more a part of the operations of the company’s ID cable network.

CNN executives were expected to inform staffers about layoffs at the network Thursday morning, according to these people. CNN correspondents Alison Kosik, Martin Savidge, Alex Field, Mary Ann Fox and Chris Cillizza are among the staffers who have been let go, according to two people familiar with the matter. A CNN spokesperson declined to comment.

CNN typically operates with a staff of between 4,000 and 4,500, according to a person familiar with the matter. The layoffs have been anticipated since CNN CEO Chris Licht in October signaled a tougher operating environment, and indicated he hoped to have cost cuts completed by the end of the year.

In a memo sent to staffers Thursday, CNN CEO Chris Licht said the news operation “will be reducing open job positions, reimagining our workflows and aligning our staffing, investments and focus around three key strategic priorities: programming, newsgathering and digital. All decisions are designed to strengthen the core of our business.”

CNN’s search to cut costs comes as its corporate parent is grappling with some onerous business conditions. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav made a commitment to investors that the company would cut $3 billion in costs after acquiring the assets of the company formerly known as WarnerMedia from AT&T. The company recently indicated in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that it would have to spend between $1 billion and $1.5 billion to scrap programming already commissioned and pay out severance packages. Warner Bros. Discovery also said it expected to take write-downs of potentially more than $4 billion in pre-tax charges through 2022.

variety.com/...

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/12/1/2139481/-CNN-has-fired-Jeremy-Piven-doppelganger-Chris-Cillizza

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