Woke talent working for CNN are getting a wake-up call as the network reverts back to more moderate news coverage.
Approximately 20 more CNN+ employees were fired during a Wednesday morning telephone call, according to a Daily Beast report. The report added the released employees were “strung along” by CNN with assurances of other opportunities within the network. A CNN spokesperson, in a statement, described it differently.
The Conservative Brief further reported:
“Leadership has spent the past several months evaluating our business to ensure it is best positioned for the future,” a CNN spokesperson noted in a statement to the Washington Examiner. “CNN has opened more than 300 new jobs since May and will continue to align our resources with our greatest opportunities for growth.”
The outlet noted further:
The Interview Club was initiated alongside CNN+ and offered subscribers the chance to connect with CNN talent such as anchors, reporters, and guests. Staffers who were given the pink slip were told they could apply for other work at the network.
Earlier this month, reports noted that remaining CNN staffers were “terrified” of being fired as the new CEO, Chris Licht, appears to be doing some house cleaning by getting rid of the most partisan talents at the network.
Brian Stelter, the former host of “Reliable Sources,” which was also canceled, was terminated last month and White House correspondent John Harwood had his contract cut short after backing President Joe Biden’s anti-“MAGA Republicans” speech.
It was Harwood’s termination that was seen as a possible change in the strategy of the network by getting rid of those who could be considered woke, The Washington Post reported.
Neither the network nor Harwood said if he was fired, quit or it was a mutual decision, but the timing had many wondering if his praise of President Biden’s divisive speech was the cause.
Harwood said in a tweet, “personal news: today’s my last day at CNN proud of the work thanks to my colleagues I’ve been lucky to serve the best in American media – St. Petersburg Times, WSJ, NYT, the NBC family, CNN look forward to figuring out what’s next.”
Some current employees of CNN spoke to The Post on the condition of anonymity of their concerns.
“People are freaked out,” one journalist said. “It almost feels like there’s a pattern. Is there a purge going on? They seem to be sending a message: ‘Watch what you say. Watch what you do.’”
“It’s a really confusing and unsettling time from top to bottom at CNN,” one producer said. “I don’t know anyone who is happy right now.”
“I think they’re hoping people will just guess what to do,” another journalist said.
“Longtime CNN personalities are disappearing, and the viewers don’t know why,” another employee said.
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