Playing the role of Baghdad Bob after the 2003 fall of the Iraqi capital to U.S. troops, CNN’s Sources of reliabilityBrian Stelter was the host of The Chief Media Correspondent. He crawled out from under his shell and began to spin for Jeff Zucker. CNN resigns himYou can call him “a larger than life” “pioneering figure”They are “rock” who’s left them in “a stunner.”
Stelter encouraged those inside CNN to cover the news as though a nation hero had died. “the news” They should do what he wants them to.
CNN has been anything but in Zucker’s nine years and instead a shell of itself, having become one of American’s most hated media organizations and hemorrhaged viewers in both prime time and total day since he took over in January 2013.
Talking on Here’s What We Do Kate Bolduan was the host. The left-wing chicken-hearted activist heaped praise upon his ex-boss and offered no condemnation or criticism. “Zucker’s been a larger than life figure at this organization for nearly a decade, a pioneering figure, and now his resignation is stunning this newsroom and the news industry.”
Stelter then read Zucker’s full memo before lamenting that it was “a stunner for the CNN newsroom” but also played corporate tool by suggesting there was nothing percolating below the surface as, since the head of WarnerMedia hasn’t “announced…an interim leadership plan,” Zucker’s decision to quit “happen[ed] very suddenly.”
Given CNN’s recent allegations of being filled sexual creeps and the ongoing scandal with Chris Cuomo and threats of lawsuits, it’s safe to not take Stelter’s statement as fact.
Stelter was shocked to learn that Allison Gollust, a fellow executive, had been the one in question. “consensual…relationship evolved in recent years,”Calling him instead of praising the state-run media with praises so evocative that they would make Chinese propagandists and North Korean propagandists blush “the rock for” CNN even though he’s been absent in recent days from “the morning editorial calls.”
Stelter concluded by insisting that, if Zucker were at a news meeting, he’d tell them the network isn’t about “the person on top,” However “the team we all played for.”
“It’s CNN as an organization. The news organization is so vastly larger than any one person. And so, the news goes on, but now without the top executive,”Bolduan agreed with him by adding, “he would”Tell them “keep reporting the news.”
CNN.com features Stelter as well chief deputy lemming Oliver Darcy Their bootlicking was even more extravagant, seeing no such errors in their Dear Leader (click “expand”):
Additionally, he brought an approachable management style to the organization and won the respect and trust of staffers and talent throughout it.
The network has been under Zucker’s leadership since it was subject to sustained attack from Trump and his followers in recent years. CNN’s Zucker-led approach to news was based on the “Facts first” motto and was relentless in calling out Trump’s lies.
This approach made Zucker a villain to Trump and he reacted badly during his time in office. He was also a frequent boogeyman for right-wing media with Fox host viciously attacking Zucker in primetime.
This was evidence that Zucker has a larger than life status and influence on American politics.
Nielsen Media Research reports that CNN has already lost 76 percent of its prime time total viewers, and 82% in the 25-54 demographic. Going back to 2013, they’re down three percent in prime time total eyeballs and 29 percent in the demo, so, again, it hasn’t exactly been a sterling tenure if one looked solely at ratings.
Adding one final point to the list of problems, there’s been a poisonous lack of self-reflection as to why people have stopped listening to and respecting them.
Instead of seeking to show respect for people of all political persuasions (and not venom), they’ve said things like this from Stelter on Monday to Bolduan about how those who listen to Joe Rogan Experience are the bigger problem for American discourse than CNN newsrooms (click “expand”):
STELTER. Rogan is the central figure of all this due to the podcast’s guests and anti-vaccination narratives that he has been a part of. In an Instagram video, Rogan shared his thoughts.
[ROGAN CLIP]
STELTER: [N]Not all opinions are equal. Think about CNN, which has major newsrooms with health departments, deaths, and operations that verify information on COVID-19. Then there are talk show hosts like Joe Rogan who simply swing it and make up their own opinions. And because figures like Rogan are trusted by people that don’t trust real newsrooms, we have a tension — a problem that’s much bigger than Spotify, much bigger than any single platform, Kate. But that’s what — is the heart of this right now.
BOLDUAN: Yes. It is becoming something larger than what can be resolved in one Joe Rogan or Spotify video. This is certain.
(h/t: @RedSteeze for the inspiration on the headline.)
Wednesday’s At This Hour offering one last valentine to Zucker was made possible thanks to advertisers such as 23andMe and Lexus. Follow the links to see their contact information at the MRC’s Conservatives Fight Back page.
To see the relevant CNN transcript from February 2, click “expand.”
CNN’s Kate Bolduan at This Hour
February 2, 2022
Eastern, 11:18[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: CNN President Jeff Zucker Resigns Effective Immediately]
KATE BOLDUAN – We now have news to report on our network. After revealing a consensual relationship with another colleague, CNN President Jeff Zucker just resigned. Jeff has led our company — led CNN for the last nine. Brian Stelter (CNN chief media correspondent) is now joining me. He hosts Reliable Sources. Brian, can you tell me more?
BRIAN STELTER I will now go through the entire memo, and try to put it in context for viewers. He wrote to staffers a few minutes ago: “As part of the investigation into Chris Cuomo’s tenure at CNN” — Cuomo, of course, fired last month — Zucker says “was asked about a consensual relationship with my closest colleague, someone I have worked with for more than 20 years. It was not a secret that the relationship had changed in recent years. I was required to disclose it when it began but I didn’t. This was a mistake. As a result, I am resigning today.” Zucker continues in the memo here: “I came to CNN on January 28, 2013. We had nine wonderful years together. My tenure at the company would have been different. It was an incredible run. And I” have “loved every minute. Thank you to all the CNN and Turner Sports staff who made this such an enjoyable experience for me and for us. I wish each of you nothing but the best in the years ahead.” That memo from Jeff Zucker a few minutes ago, a stunner for the CNN newsroom and for Turner Sports, which he oversaw in recent years. Jason Kyler (head of WarnerMedia) has announced that he’ll soon announce a interim leadership plan. In other words, he’s not naming a new boss right away. You can see that this was a sudden event.
It is important to note that Zucker did not include the name of his coworker in the Zucker memo. He is referring to his close friend as a consensual relationship. Allison Gollust (head of marketing and communication at Turner Sports) is that colleague. Zucker has been a colleague for many decades. At the time, they were working together at NBC. Today Show was at NBC Universal in the ’90s and at CNN and WarnerMedia now. According to this memo here, it was a consensual relationship that evolved in recent years, and that they — and he did not disclose it, and thus, that’s why he’s resigning.
I’ve just received, Kate, while we’re speaking here, a statement from Allison Gollust as well. As I said, Gollust, the top marketing executive for CNN, she’s remaining with the company, and here’s what she says: “Jeff and I have been close friends and professional partners for over 20 years. Recently, our relationship has changed with COVID. I regret that we didn’t disclose it at the right time.” Gollust going on to say: “I’m incredibly proud of my time at CNN and look forward to continuing the great work we do every day.”
This is where two people work together long-term, but then start to have a relationship. Zucker admits that he didn’t disclose the information at the time and says he should. He’s now resigning effective immediately. Kate, we both know he — Jeff Zucker has been the rock for this organization. In the past few days, he has not participated in morning editorial calls. Some wondered if something was wrong. This announcement is not something I saw coming. However, I believe Zucker would have said the following if he was present on this conference call. He would say what’s important at CNN is not the person on top, it’s the team we all played for. CNN is an organisation. The news organization is so vastly larger than any one person. The news continues, except that the top executive is no longer with it.
BOLDUAN: Yeah. Continue reporting on the news. This is what he would have said. Brian, I am so grateful. I really appreciate your kindness.
STELTER: Thanks.
About Post Author
