July 12th 2024.
There has been some major restructuring happening at CNN recently. According to Phil Lewis's What I'm Reading newsletter, the Race and Equality team at the network is no longer in existence. This news came after CNN's new chief executive, Mark Thompson, made the announcement on July 10th.
Sadly, one reporter from the team was laid off and the other two were reassigned to different departments within the newsroom. This award-winning team was known for their exceptional coverage on important issues such as Black maternal mortality and police brutality, topics that are especially pertinent for Black viewers. Just last year, former CNN president Jeff Zucker praised the team and their commitment to ensuring that race coverage was a permanent part of the network's journalism.
In light of the Black Lives Matter movement and the tragic death of George Floyd, many companies and media organizations, including CNN, made a pledge to fight against racial injustice. They promised to examine their internal policies and make donations to civil rights organizations. However, according to the New York Post, CNN's spokesperson stated that the Race and Equality team was still employed, but then later retracted that statement.
It seems that the team is no longer functioning as a unit, as they have been assigned to different areas within the network. The spokesperson clarified that their perspective and work will now be integrated into all aspects of CNN's programming. While the team may not exist in the same capacity as before, race and equality are still at the forefront of their focus.
This restructuring comes at a time when CNN has also laid off around 3% of its workforce, which amounts to about 100 employees. Some high-profile names, such as media critic Brian Lowry and senior tech writer Samantha Murphy Kelly, were among those let go. This isn't the first time CNN has made headlines for letting go of a prominent figure. In 2023, they fired star anchor Don Lemon after 17 years, amid rumors that former CEO Chris Licht wanted to shift the network's news coverage to be more neutral and appeal to both sides of the political spectrum.
Under Thompson's leadership, CNN is also set to launch its first-ever subscription product for its website. This will feature content produced by lifestyle journalists and is expected to be a highly sought-after offering. While some changes are being made at CNN, it's clear that their commitment to quality journalism and addressing important issues remains strong.
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