Headline RoundupJune 7th, 2022

CNN is Evaluating Its Partisan Talent and Programming: Report

Summary from the AllSides News Team

CNN (Left bias) is reportedly re-evaluating the partisanship of its media personalities and programming. 

A report from Axios (Center bias) published on Wednesday highlighted how Chris Licht, the new head of CNN, is placing a larger emphasis on neutral and facts-focused reporting after the network "grew polarizing" during Donald Trump's presidency. Licht will give news anchors the opportunity to tone down their biased rhetoric so that they no longer "tarnish CNN's journalism brand." On-air personalities that fail to do so will be at risk of losing their jobs.

Licht replaced Jeff Zucker as CNN's president as the network's newly-remodeled parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, is looking to make substantial changes to its most valued brands. One of the first major decisions made under Licht's reign was shutting down CNN+ only weeks after its initial launch. According to a memo Licht sent to CNN employees last month, the network will focus on being "advocates for the truth" going forward.

Left-rated outlets were more likely to make comparisons to the hyperpartisan nature of Fox News (Right bias) and criticized CNN for "doing as much to misinform Americans as inform them." Daily Kos (Left bias) labeled Licht's intentions as "noble" but expressed concern that his definition of partisanship is "custom-baked to produce the worst possible results." Right-rated outlets noted how praised Licht's efforts to bring CNN back to its "subtler style of the 1990s" and how the "once-proud" network has fallen behind Fox News in ratings. Townhall (Right bias) emphasized that CNN's coverage of Putin's invasion of Ukraine highlights the "hard news that made it a reputable brand" before it lost its way.

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