As we previously reported, all hell has broken loose at CNN HQ as new head honcho Chris Licht appears to be making good on his promise and that of other higher ups to clear the house of the rabidly partisan actors that put the “sh” in “Democratic shill” at the struggling “news” outlet.
The first one to get handed his walking papers was the network’s former media hall monitor and resident Biden comms staff cheerleader Brian Stelter, who it appears was given just one week to wrap things up, say goodbye to the tens of viewers he had each week for his Sunday “Reliable Sources” broadcast, and exit stage left.
Next up was their White House correspondent John Harwood, who informed his Twitter followers Friday that it was his “last day at CNN.” Harwood was unquestionably one of the most blatant Democrat apologists in the MSM, dating back to his days on CNBC when he played favorites with the then-Democratic candidate for president Hillary Clinton’s campaign chair John Podesta on multiple occasions during her failed campaign.
Not surprisingly, Licht’s decisions on Harwood and Stelter have reportedly left other staffers “terrified” in wondering who might be next to get the boot:
One CNN journalist told the [Washington] Post: ‘People are freaked out. 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.'”
[…]
CNN journalists, however, say the new boss has done little to elaborate on what his vision entails and what reporters should do to avoid coming off as partisan when reporting about major issues.
‘I think they’re hoping people will just guess what to do,’ one journalist told the Post.
Another employee also criticized the network’s lack of explanations over the recent firings, saying: ‘Longtime CNN personalities are disappearing, and the viewers don’t know why.’
[…]
A veteran producer, who like the others spoke on the condition of anonymity over concerns about their jobs, said the recent departures and unclear messaging spells trouble for the network ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.
‘It’s a really confusing and unsettling time from top to bottom at CNN,’ the producer told the Post. ‘I don’t know anyone who is happy right now.’
I would think understanding the difference between being a partisan “journalist” versus an objective one would be obvious, but then again judging by how some so-called “journalism professors” indocrinate their students, maybe it’s not so obvious to the on-air talent who perhaps were trained to believe it’s okay to share your opinions in what are supposed to be neutral reports.
In any event, as my RS colleague, Levon Satamian noted Monday, CNN seems to be “making all the right people upset” in the changes they are trying to institute, although judging by some questionable recent broadcasts, they obviously still have a long way to go.
That being said, if Chris Licht can pull off the “un-partisaning” of CNN, he will deserve some major kudos, because it can’t be an easy job to “de-resistance” the hard left movers and shakers who lived the high life under Zucker’s rule.
Stay tuned, and keep a good supply of popcorn on hand.
Flashback: Flop Sweat Builds as CNN’s New Head Honcho Evaluates On-Air Staff for ‘Partisan Tone’