CNN announces sweeping layoffs in cost-cutting

CNN, owned by Warner Bros Discovery, has executed sweeping layoffs as part of its cost-cutting strategy, according to a report. The company s chief executive, Chris Licht, said in a memo to employees that it had implemented a series of changes that affected multiple divisions of the news organisation, including ending live programming on the HLN network.

Licht wrote in his memo that the changes we are making today are necessary and will make us stronger and more positioned to place big bets going forward without fear of failure.

The layoffs, which started Wednesday and were expected to affect hundreds of employees, had been completed by Thursday afternoon, according to the CNN report. The number of employees that were let go has not been disclosed, but it is understood that the cuts targeted several areas of the company, including some on-air talent and members of management.

The report said that the network was shifting its approach to paid contributors after cutting off its stable of commentators on Wednesday. Licht wrote that we will rely more on CNN journalists in some areas.

He said that we will engage with contributors who are subject-matter experts to expand and diversify the viewpoints we bring to our audience.

Some of its teams and bureaus have been reorganized as per Licht. He said that CNN International's 5 pm ET show will be replaced by a simulcast of CNN US for the half hour.

According to Licht, CNN en Espaol will move to diversify its audience beyond news.

Licht also announced that several other divisions were undergoing a restructuring, including US newsgathering, operations, research, creative marketing, and programming.

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