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On-Air Talent Will Not Be Spared as CNN Prepares Mass Layoffs in Wake of Election: Report

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CNN reportedly will be making more cuts in the near future, including to its highly paid on-air personalities, following poor election ratings.

The New York Post reported that Fox News crushed all comers on election night last week, with an average of 10.3 million viewers from 8 to 11 p.m. Eastern, based on Nielsen data.

CNN, which had the highest number of viewers during 2016’s election night (with 13.3 million), came in third last Tuesday, with just 5.1 million tuning in, falling behind rival MSNBC with 6 million watching.

“Warner Bros. Discovery-owned CNN lost nearly half of the 9.6 million people who watched during the 2020 presidential election,” the Post noted.

In July, CNN announced it was laying off approximately 100 employees, or about 2.9 percent of its 3,500-employee workforce, according to Deadline.

Puck News co-founder and previous CNN journalist Dylan Byers reported last week, “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.”

“Reporters and correspondents will be asked to assume more of the responsibilities once handled by teams of producers and production assistants, redundant assignments will be nixed, and various divisions will be reduced or even eliminated. Some of the on-air talent are also likely to be affected,” he added.

Do you ever watch CNN?

CNN’s Chris Wallace’s announced departure this week appears to be a manifestation of the belt-tightening at the network.

CNN did not renew his $8.5 million per year contract.

Additionally, the network informed Jake Tapper and Wolf Blitzer that they would not be receiving a requested wage increase from their $7 million and $3 million salaries, respectively, per year, according to The Daily Mail.

Other high-paid talent at the network includes Anderson Cooper ($20 million per year),  Kaitlan Collins ($3 million per year) and Erin Burnett ($6 million per year).

Related:
Priceless: Watch Angry CNN Panelist Call Network's Own Reporting Fake News

Puck News reported the man behind the layoff decision is new CEO Mark Thompson, who previously led The New York Times and the BBC.

His strategy for CNN going forward is to prioritize digital content and streaming over traditional so-called linear television programming.

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Randy DeSoto has written more than 3,000 articles for The Western Journal since he began with the company in 2015. He is a graduate of West Point and Regent University School of Law. He is the author of the book "We Hold These Truths" and screenwriter of the political documentary "I Want Your Money."
Randy DeSoto wrote and was the assistant producer of the documentary film "I Want Your Money" about the perils of Big Government, comparing the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama. Randy is the author of the book "We Hold These Truths," which addresses how leaders have appealed to beliefs found in the Declaration of Independence at defining moments in our nation's history. He has been published in several political sites and newspapers.

Randy graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a BS in political science and Regent University School of Law with a juris doctorate.
Birthplace
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Nationality
American
Honors/Awards
Graduated dean's list from West Point
Education
United States Military Academy at West Point, Regent University School of Law
Books Written
We Hold These Truths
Professional Memberships
Virginia and Pennsylvania state bars
Location
Phoenix, Arizona
Languages Spoken
English
Topics of Expertise
Politics, Entertainment, Faith




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