CNN is reportedly preparing to fire top talent and streamline its workforce in a round of post-election cuts. The layoffs, first reported by Puck News, follow months of declining viewership and come as high-paid anchors such as Jake Tapper and Wolf Blitzer were recently denied raises.
Tapper and Blitzer currently earn $7 million and $3 million annually, respectively, while other CNN stars, including Anderson Cooper, Kaitlan Collins, and Erin Burnett, also command substantial salaries.
According to insiders, the upcoming layoffs may impact on-air talent as well as production staff, as CNN’s new CEO, Mark Thompson, looks to cut costs and refocus the network amid stagnant ratings.
Dylan Byers of Puck News noted that hundreds of CNN employees could be affected in the next wave of layoffs, building on a prior cut of 100 positions over the summer.
Byers reported that the upcoming firings will primarily target production roles, shifting additional responsibilities to reporters and correspondents.
On-air talent will be expected to handle more tasks previously managed by production teams, as divisions are reduced or eliminated to streamline operations.
Mark Thompson, who previously led The New York Times and the BBC, took over as CNN’s CEO following Chris Licht’s exit earlier this year.
Licht’s tenure saw CNN’s ratings slip significantly, dropping from a leader in cable news viewership to being surpassed by Fox News and, more recently, MSNBC.
Under Jeff Zucker’s leadership in 2016, CNN was the most-watched network on election nights, drawing over 13 million viewers during primetime.
Now, that number has plummeted to roughly 800,000 viewers, with Fox News dominating cable news with nearly 3 million viewers per night and outpacing CNN’s election coverage by millions.
CNN has struggled to maintain relevance amid increasing competition from streaming platforms and other media, and recent elections have underscored the shift in viewership.
In this month’s election coverage, CNN trailed both Fox News, which drew 10.3 million viewers, and MSNBC, which attracted 6 million—a marked change from CNN’s past dominance in major political events.
Amid these challenges, CNN’s new strategy under Thompson reportedly involves a digital-first focus, which may lead to new hires in digital content and online operations, even as layoffs hit other departments.
A source told Puck that these digital-centric changes could yield a net gain in staff, though specifics remain unclear. Insiders described a tense atmosphere at CNN’s Manhattan headquarters, with anxiety high over potential job cuts.
Meanwhile, long-standing anchor Chris Wallace recently confirmed that his $8.5 million annual contract with CNN would not be renewed, stating he is considering a full-time shift to podcasting.
Wallace joins a growing list of high-profile CNN talent facing uncertain futures, as CNN continues its realignment to adapt to the shifting media landscape.