CNN begins mass layoffs after dismal ratings during the November 2024 elections
CNN is set to kick off a round of post-election layoffs that will affect hundreds of employees in the company, including on-air personalities.
Sources told Puck News that the layoffs will take place in the "next few months," and will include "those whose TV production talents won't necessarily be needed in the new digital-first landscape," wrote Puck founding partner Dylan Byers.
Reporters and correspondents would be asked to take on responsibilities handled by production teams, "redundant assignments will be nixed, and various divisions will be reduced or even eliminated."
The outlet said that some on-air talent is "likely" to be affected by the layoffs.
While layoffs are occurring, CNN reportedly plans to create new positions. The layoff and hiring process could result in a net gain in employees to accommodate CEO Mark Thompson's stress on a digital-first business model.
This comes as Chris Wallace is set to leave the outlet at the end of the year, choosing to decline a new contract that was less than the three-year one signed under former CNN head Jeff Zucker. Viewership at the outlet has declined 40 percent year over year between Thursday and one year prior, and in primetime, viewership declined 54 percent. On election night, the outlet received 5.1 million average viewers, down from 10 million in 2020.
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