Embattled CNN, once a dominant force in cable news, is reeling from its latest shakeup under new boss Mark Thompson, who announced sweeping changes that include 200 job cuts and a pivot toward a digital-heavy future. The move, amounting to 6% of CNN’s workforce, signals a stark departure from its traditional cable dominance and underscores its struggle to compete with rivals like Fox News and MSNBC.
Thompson, the former New York Times executive credited with pushing that outlet into the digital era, outlined his vision in a memo obtained by reporters. “Our objective is a simple one: to shift CNN’s gravity towards the platforms and products where the audience themselves are shifting,” Thompson wrote. Yet, critics wonder if CNN is simply grasping at straws in an attempt to regain relevance in a rapidly changing media landscape.
Among the casualties of the overhaul is outspoken Trump critic Jim Acosta, who will lose his coveted morning slot and be relegated to a midnight shift. The demotion has reportedly left Acosta fuming, with rumors swirling that he’s considering quitting. Meanwhile, veteran anchor Wolf Blitzer will be moved to a new morning show alongside Pamela Brown, a shift that underscores CNN’s attempt to revamp its on-air lineup as it struggles to attract viewers.
The layoffs, which primarily impact behind-the-scenes staff like producers and editors, come as CNN tries to streamline its cable operations and invest in digital growth. The network plans to develop a new streaming service for news programming and launch a lifestyle-oriented product later this year. These efforts are being financed by a $70 million investment from CNN’s parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), which itself is undergoing significant restructuring.
While Thompson’s memo strikes a tone of optimism, the numbers paint a grim picture. CNN’s viewership has plummeted since President Trump’s reelection, and the network now trails far behind cable rivals Fox News and MSNBC. December saw CNN’s web traffic hit a two-year low, with just 90.5 million unique visits—a sharp decline from its pandemic-era peak of 175.5 million in March 2020, according to analytics firm Comscore.
Even as Thompson insists that CNN remains “an indispensable way in which many, many millions of people get their news,” the network’s ratings and relevance tell a different story. The decline has been exacerbated by its shift away from the overtly partisan tone that defined its coverage under former boss Jeff Zucker, leaving many questioning whether CNN has alienated both its liberal base and potential centrist viewers in its attempt to chart a middle path.
CNN isn’t alone in its struggles. Left-leaning outlets like NBC News and *The Washington Post* are also facing layoffs, as the broader media industry grapples with declining revenues and shifting audience habits. But CNN’s plight feels particularly acute, given its once-lofty position as a leader in cable news.
In the end, the network’s attempt to rebrand itself as a digital-first operation may be its last chance to remain relevant in a world dominated by Fox News and a rapidly expanding alternative media landscape. However, with viewership dwindling and trust eroded, it remains to be seen whether CNN can truly recover—or if it will simply fade further into irrelevance.
