Ad Choices. But that's not what we're talking about. Your jobs have meaning. He lifted ratings at the perennial also-ran CBS This Morning on the strength of the programs three hosts, Charlie Rose, Gayle King and Norah ODonnell. Maggie Vespa is an American broadcast journalist. They have two sons together. Thats why Im here. At the end of November, Mr. Licht levied another round of job cuts this time just under 10 percent of CNNs work force of about 4,000, which plunged morale further. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, driving an overhaul at the left-leaning network, New York Times, MSNBC, CNN slammed for claiming COVID lab leak theory was debunked, CNN on track for smallest audience of viewers age 25 to 54 since 2014: report, Chinese lab leak likely behind COVID outbreak, US finally admits in classified report, CNN boss says network on the right path as it invites more GOP guests. In his most substantial interview since taking over CNN, the CEO talked about mistakes in Trump coverageincluding those made by his predecessor Jeff Zuckerand how he plans to avoid making the same ones. But Licht is also not filling out for viewers of CNN, or particularly for the staff at CNN, exactly what his moves are representing at the moment. Every Saturday, Mr. Licht sends Mr. Zaslav a memo with highlights of the week and programming and financial updates. At which point Mr. Colbert stopped trying to dissuade him: I cant negotiate with a calling.. Boosting CNNs revenues is a priority for new owner Warner Bros Discovery thats carrying about $59bn in debt and promised shareholders $3bn in cost savings. Hunter Biden Cashed In to Fuel His Drug and Sex Habits, Targeting People With Mental Illness and Dementia for Euthanasia. The personal health crisis was a defining. It's not clear any outlet has perfected the formula to cover a twice-impeached, insurrection-inciting, 2020 election-denying, subject of several state and federal investigations running for a second term in the White House. [17] As executive producer, he focused on management issues that host Stephen Colbert had previously handled, as well as shortening the opening credits and adding a comedy sketch immediately before them. [12][13] Licht was the executive producer of CBS This Morning starting when the show launched in 2012, and later joined The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in 2016. Asked about his efforts to make CNN less partisan, Mr. Licht gave this analogy: Suppose its raining outside. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. And I think there are a lot of questions about the morning shows. View All 893 Images. Most recently, Licht. In that capacity, he gave advice on various types of material for several network departments. His first major act was to kill the networks fledgling streaming service, CNN+, and fire 400 or so people working on it. Still, Lichts remarks reportedly have upset some employees at the network ahead of a highly anticipated CNN town hall on Thursday. In 2018, CNNs New York headquarters had to be evacuated after a bomb threat. Discovery chief David Zaslav has reportedly zeroed in on the replacement for former CNN President Jeff Zucker, and it will be Chris Licht, as first reported by Puck News' Dylan Byers.. Licht's hiring was expected to come at a special Discovery shareholders meeting March 11, but CNN is expected to make the announcement next week, according to CNN's Brian Stelter. Earlier this year, DirecTV, one of the largest US pay-TV providers, announced it would drop One America News Network, the conservative channel criticized for spreading misinformation. CNN had also become the poster child for the poisoned relationship between former President Donald J. Trump and mainstream media organizations. Licht was born to Susan Mary and Dr. Peter David Licht. Chris Licht, who took over leadership of CNN Worldwide last month, wants to rein in the use of the " breaking news " banner. Licht is 51 years old. All rights reserved. Simpson trial, he quickly established himself as a competent producer. Under new chief Chris Licht, CNN will dial down the prime-time partisanship and double down on the network's news-gathering muscle, top sources tell me. The age-old media industry questionhow to cover presidential candidate Donald Trumphas become more complicated. He generates a sustainable livelihood from his career as the CEO of CNN. Chris Licht, who has been late-night host Stephen Colbert's top producer since 2016, was appointed the new chairman and CEO of CNN. All rights reserved. Its important for a functioning society.. Licht was born to Susan Mary (Kneeland) and Dr. Peter David Licht of Newtown, Connecticut. He is also known for having launched Morning Joe on MSNBC, and the reboot of CBS This Morning. He was named to the post in April 2022. He stayed withthe channel as executive producer after the change. [14][15][16] A month after he was named executive producer and showrunner of The Late Show, the show saw its largest weekly audience since February 19 of that year. On Feb. 28, Mr. Licht was named CNN's new chief executive. Another reason to be suspicious of Lichts supposed apology tour is that most of his hosts suffer from Trump Derangement Syndrome. So perhaps focusing in on longer pieces, explainers, and not breaking news, the adrenaline center of the news business. We have fact-checkers ready to go. We're going to get back to our roots. Chris Licht is a bit more hands off. Producer: CBS This Morning. By announcing the need for more layoffs on Oct. 26, he said he hoped to engage in a transparent process that would leave everyone feeling theyd been heard. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. He is well known as the husband of actress Porsha Williams. CNN staffers are upset over buzz that Chris Licht plans to hire Charles Barkley. Chris Licht came over after stints at CBS where he oversaw the Colbert "Late Show." Daily updates from Washington, Wall Street, and Silicon Valley. He just hadn't said so publicly yet. New CNN boss Chris Licht reportedly nudged producers to avoid describing former President Donald Trump's claims that the 2020 election was stolen as "the big lie" - a move that comes as top. Licht has an estimated net worth of $15 million. Weve been friends for 15 years, Mr. Zaslav said. Top donors and strategists are desperate to stop him. And he had also been at CBS News, and before that, MSNBC. FOLKENFLIK: Harwood knew at the time he was saying that on the air that he was going to be leaving the network. JOHN HARWOOD: Now, that's something that's not easy for us as journalists to say. More significantly, Mr. Licht noted, This Morning has broken news, including the chief Washington correspondent Jake Tappers scoop that Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona was leaving the Democratic Party to become an Independent. Since May 2022, he has been the chairman and CEO of CNN. CHANG: OK. If so, it would appear that he is the wrong man to do it. Mr. Licht has looked to Mr. Zaslav as a mentor, and Mr. Zaslav has admired Mr. Lichts work ethic and drive. We are not going to be a 24/7 Trump news network.. This was not, he stressed repeatedly, a move to the center, a boring, political neutral zone that Mr. Licht wasnt even sure existed. CreditVincent Tullo for The New York Times. And he also promises, without specifying, he says CNN's got to be more entertaining and better TV. Licht co-created Morning Joe on MSNBC and served as its first executive producer before joining CBS. But it wont have anyone on who says its sunny out. He killed the show "Reliable Sources." If Lichts idea of mending fences with the GOP is putting Jonah Goldberg on the air more, he is clearly not serious. Required fields are marked *. Chris Licht, the producer who created "Morning Joe," revamped "CBS This Morning" and revitalized "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," has been selected to run CNN once Discovery merges with . Among the casualties were familiar commentators like Chris Cillizza, key behind-the-scenes producers with decades of experience, and the entirety of HLN, CNNs sister network, and its popular morning host, Robin Meade. (They later married. The experience inspired him to write a book titled, What I Learned When I Almost Died.. AILSA CHANG, HOST: This week brought news of. Notably, the two hosts, the former Republican politician Joe Scarborough and the more liberal former CBS correspondent Mika Brzezinski, straddled the political divide. [23] Licht has expressed a desire to change negative perceptions of CNN among Republicans. Licht appears to be taking a neutral stand in matters of politics. Chris Licht, the new CNN chairman, is encouraging a more nuanced approach to coverage. When it comes to creating and producing content for networks, cable, and streaming services, Licht has experience in news, scripted, non-scripted, talk shows, and live programming. (2001), Listen toVFsLittle Gold MenPodcast for Unrivaled Awards-Season Coverage, 2023 Cond Nast. This success occurred partly because Licht allowed the show's hosts Gayle King, Charlie Rose, and Norah O'Donnell, to talk freely about news events and about themselves. "I think anyone who doesnt see that, or argues with that, is just wrong. On their first lunch afterward, at Mr. Zaslavs usual corner table at Gramercy Tavern, Mr. Zaslav indicated their yearslong relationship had fundamentally changed. After Mr. Licht hung up, his wife, Jennifer Blanco Licht, a former TV executive herself, asked: Is this crazy? Among the reforms, Licht directed network anchors and producers to stop using the phrase "The Big Lie" to describe attempts to overturn the result of the 2020 election - in part because it's a. In the years since, they have had breakfast once a quarter. Thats why I took this job. Even if he raises ratings? asked Swisher. Wallace, whose show will also be moved to HBO Max, is also helping cover some of the January 6 hearings. Reliably lousy: Brian Stelter's CNN show draws lowest rati Jay Leno reveals his unbelievable new face three months after car fire, Sunny Hostin Points Finger at China for COVID Crisis: Did Not Cooperate With the International Community, Good luck 'worming' your way out of this one, Kanye West and 'wife' Bianca Censori look surprisingly happy on dinner date, Canadian teacher with size-Z prosthetic breasts placed on paid leave. And nothing about that has changed. I love the collaboration. He helped to interview Osama bin Laden in the late '90s, but has been focused on counterterrorism in recent years and has been the source of some criticism from Muslim groups for that. On Feb. 28, Mr. Licht was named CNNs new chief executive. At another all-staff meeting this month, aimed at restoring morale, Mr. Licht took questions and then ended with a passage he wrote himself: In terms of morale, let me just say, you work at a world-renowned news organization alongside the best journalists on the globe. Chris Licht is known for CBS This Morning (1992), CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley (2011) and Stephen Colbert Presents Tooning Out The News (2020). Prime time looms as an even greater challenge. Soon after the Warner-Discovery deal was announced, Mr. Zaslav summoned Mr. Licht to Discoverys headquarters in Manhattan on 19th Street and asked what he thought of CNN. Many more millions would be needed. The effort to turn CNN away from being the story (Donald Trump memorably christened it Fake News Network; Anderson Cooper called him an obese turtle on his back flailing in the hot sun) to reporting it, comes amid pressure from cable-TV distributors to drop politically contentious cable channels. Trumps Relationship With Jared and Ivanka. Are you ready for this? He lifted ratings at the perennial also-ran CBS This Morning on the strength of the programs three hosts, Charlie Rose, Gayle King and Norah ODonnell, and an emphasis on news and in-depth interviews, rather than the lighter fare format of its competitors Today and Good Morning America.. Rian Johnson, Halle Berry, and More Share Their Inspiration, From the Archive:Who Stole the Oscars? The network boss camped out in mid-July. But can it still be done, and will it rate? To the extent that Republicans appear on CNN, they do so as stooges who are expected to second CNNs liberal narrative. Thats a little bit like asking why The New York Times has had more stories about Hillary than anyone else." I am especially proud to join CNN at a time when covering the news, getting it right and delivering it in a straightforward way has never been more vital to the American public.. It has to be compelling and entertaining without hurting the news brand, he said, citing his former boss Mr. Colbert, and Mr. Stewart as the kind of people whod work, while acknowledging that Mr. Stewart is already locked into a lucrative contract at Apple TV. [20] Licht began dating her while they both were on assignment at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens and they married in April 2006 at the L'Auberge Del Mar, in Del Mar, California.[1]. The change is we will not do Trump 24/7 or let him dictate our agenda.. Beginning in the fall, the network on Sunday evenings will air the show from former Fox News anchor Chris Wallace that was on the ill-fated CNN+. Licht, whose appointment may be announced by Discovery Inc . The article has been corrected. Its worrisome that were being told how to talk about one of the worst things that ever happened to American democracy, one source told Mediaite. NN has long claimed to be the most trusted name in news but its recent history has seen the rolling US cable news channel court controversy with a shift to the left as the rise of Donald Trump roiled American politics. Fox and MSNBC were advocacy networks, as Mr. Zaslav put it, a proven business model appealing to like-minded viewers but of scant, if any, value as a public service. During a call with staff Tuesday morning, CEO Chris Licht announced that John Miller would be joining CNN as the network's Chief Law Enforcement and Intelligence Analyst. But look, it's not just Zucker, it was everybody, Licht told Swisher. Licht graduated with a bachelors degree in broadcast journalism and political science from Syracuse Universitys S.I. Why it matters: Ratings are secondary to credibility, in the view of Warner Bros. Chris Licht, the new president of CNN, is settling into one of the most challenging jobs in news, and questions abound regarding how he will guide the network out of the extreme turmoil it has. During the O.J. Almost immediately, their shared vision of saving democracy ran into the harsh reality of cable news economics. This has been a passion of Discovery CEO David Zaslav and Discovery's biggest investor, John Malone. Last week, in fact, media reports suggested that Licht was trying to lure his old colleague Joe Scarborough to CNN. He is best known as the showrunner and executive producer of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, as well as CBS's executive vice president of special programming. He was named Zuckers replacement on February 26, 2022, following the surprise resignation of CNN President Jeff Zucker in February 2022. And he said that Biden was right in arguing that the MAGA part of the Republican Party was a threat to American democracy. Is Secession the Answer to American Disunity? Im not sure that putting on a comedian is a great move for credibility., Mr. Licht said he understood Mr. Sarvarys point, but said prime time offered some leeway for being a little different.. In August, Mr. Licht moved Mr. Tapper from his 4 p.m. anchor position to the coveted 9 p.m. slot that had been vacated by Chris Cuomo after CNN fired him for what it deemed inappropriate efforts to help his brother, New Yorks former governor, Andrew Cuomo, fend off the sexual harassment allegations that led to his resignation from office. [28], On April 28, 2010, Licht suffered a near-fatal cerebral hemorrhage while driving in Washington, D.C. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. Menu. Mr. Licht said he used the analogy to make clear that a less-partisan CNN did not mean it was any less committed to truth. By signing up you agree to our User Agreement and Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement. So tell us, who is CNN's new CEO and chairman Chris Licht, and how does he want to reshape CNN exactly? And there are questions about what that's going to look like. A contract ensued. Discovery Upfront 2022 show at The Theater at Madison Square Garden on May 18, 2022 in New York City. Known for . A month before the election, he acknowledged that airing so many Trump rallies in full was a mistake, but continued to defend the cable networks coverage in the following months after Trump had won. Can the Republican hold on to the political movement he helped build? Lemon was trolled on Twitter, but won the praise of Fox Newss Sean Hannity. The moves, both editorial and commercial, come months after a sex-and-politics scandal at the network that saw the departure of CEO Jeff Zucker who had been having an affair with the marketing chief, Allison Gollust, who had previously worked for former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, whose brother and CNN anchor Chris Cuomo had helped fashion the governors response to sex harassment claims. A CNN open to treating the GOP fairly would have to moderate that coverage. Chris Licht became CNN's chairman and CEO in May. Copyright 2022 NPR. According to the Washington Free Beacon, Chris Licht, CNNs relatively new president, is seeking to repair his networks relationship with the GOP. The networks previous parent, the telecommunications giant AT&T, had just spun off its Warner Media subsidiary, which included CNN, into a new company run by Discoverys chief executive, David Zaslav. 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