A new report claims that CNN is preparing to implement a new round of layoffs that is expected to impact “hundreds of employees” in the aftermath of the 2024 presidential election.
According to Puck, executives at CNN are expected to announce hundreds of layoffs over the next few months following a decline in viewership ratings throughout the presidential election cycle.
Dylan Byers, a Puck reporter, wrote, “In the next few months, I’m told, CNN will implement another round of layoffs that will impact hundreds of employees across the organization, including those whose TV production talents won’t necessarily be needed in the new digital-first landscape.”
Byers reported that CNN’s viewership experienced a significant decline on election night, as the news outlet received only 5.1 million average viewers instead of the 10 million average viewers the outlet received in 2020.
According to Byers, the anticipated new round of layoffs at CNN is expected to significantly impact employees who work in production at the company. Byers noted that sources have indicated that CNN correspondents and reporters will be expected to cover some of the responsibilities that were previously covered by producers and production assistants.
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Byers explained that some of CNN’s on-air personalities are also “likely” to be impacted by the upcoming layoffs, while “redundant assignments” will be cut, and multiple CNN divisions will be either reduced or eliminated.
Sources indicated to Byers that the upcoming layoffs are part of the company’s plan to focus on digital platforms due to the changing nature of the news industry. Byers noted that the emphasis on digital platforms comes directly from CNN CEO Mark Thompson.
One source told Byers that CNN’s emphasis on digital platforms could result in a “net gain” of employees despite the expected round of layoffs in the coming months.
News of the potential CNN layoffs comes as CNN host Chris Wallace confirmed his departure from the outlet on Monday during an interview with the Daily Beast. “This is the first time in 55 years I’ve been between jobs,” Wallace said. “I am actually excited and liberated by that.”
The Daily Mail reported that CNN stars such as Jake Tapper and Wolf Blitzer have both been denied raises amid the company’s financial and viewership struggles.
