Big Changes Are Coming to CNN, Including Some Hilarious Reassignments – Opinion

After days of almost exclusive focus on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, here’s a bit of a palate cleanser for you. The name of CNN’s new head to replace the ousted Jeff Zucker has been leaked. Dylan Byers reports that Chris Licht, the new network head will take over from Jeff Zucker. Word is spreading fast about big changes.

Today, Warner Bros. David Zaslav, Discovery chief, had made a decision to name the next president of CNN. Also, I reported that Chris Licht (formerly of Morning Joe, CBS This Morning and the executive producer of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert) was a leading contender to the post formerly held by Jeff Zucker. According to conversations I had with Zaslav about the matter, Licht was indeed selected by Zaslav for CNN’s leadership.

Notice that it wasn’t Brian Stelter, CNN’s own “media reporter,” that broke this news. That’s not a coincidence. Jon Nicosia reports that Stelter, along with Oliver Darcy as his sidekick are considering being reassigned. Discovery, which has purchased the liberal network, is reportedly looking to dial back the partisanship of its “reporters” in order to re-establish some credibility and standards.

You should know that CNN has a ‘Media Reporter’. Oliver Darcy, Brian Stelter, and Oliver Darcy served as Zucker’s cleanup and hitmen. Discovery wants to start again. More to follow.

— Jon Nicosia (@NewsPolitics) February 27, 2022

Nicosia recalls that Stelter (and Darcy) have been bodyguards to Zucker and his network and often strayed from ethical journalism. The two “reporters” have made an art of misleading by omission while expressing an unhealthy obsession with Fox News. RedState is also an occasional target. Stelter was a left-leaning stenographer during the Katie Hill scandal. Our own Jennifer Van Laar covered it.

By the numbers, Stelter’s ratings have never justified his position with the network. This lack of talent is evident for a long time. It’s compounded with overt political partisanship that has been completely devoid of charisma. If that’s not what CNN’s new ownership is looking for, where does Stelter ultimately end up? The answer to that could very well be “on the street.”

Fantastic news: Brian Stelter, who spent most of the last half decade trying to cost other people their jobs, has told several people that be thinks he’s going to lose his job at CNN.

Is there anywhere else he could be? Is there anyone who would want to see that man on television again?

— Arthur Schwartz (@ArthurSchwartz) February 27, 2022

Still, color me slightly skeptical that Chris Licht, who once led MSNBC’s Morning Joe, is going to fully pull CNN back into the realm of sanity. Clearly, Licht is a hardcore liberal, and though he may make big changes, it’ll be interesting to see what that all adds up to. Yet, Discovery obviously didn’t buy the network to lose money, and CNN’s current ratings are absolute garbage. It’s obvious that things have to change. Many well-known faces will lose their show and be forced out of high-ranking positions. Make sure to grab some popcorn.