CNN‘s top executive told staffers Wednesday that he wants to stay at the news giant, but has little knowledge of what the outlet’s soon-to-be new corporate parent has in store.
\n\n“I am enthusiastic about staying,” CNN CEO Mark Thompson told employees during a town hall meeting, according to two people with knowledge of his remarks. Even so, he also confided he has no knowledge of how Paramount Skydance, which settled an antitrust lawsuit earlier this week with 12 state attorneys general, wants to proceed once it completes its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.
\n\n“How Paramount wants to run news” is not known to him at present, he said.
\n\nThe meeting was scheduled several days ago and not because of Paramount’s victory this week, according to a person familiar with the matter. CNN declined to make executives available for comment. Thompson also told staffers, in response to a question posed by veteran correspondent John King, that he did not know when a transition might start or when Paramount executives might be seen in CNN’s officers.
\n\nCNN personnel have reason for alarm. Paramount’s management of CBS News has been controversial, and has not been good for the business of the news unit.
Original source: https://variety.com/