Media Layoffs: CNN Shifts Focus to Digital, NBC Announces Minimal Cuts

Two major media companies reportedly plan to lay off employees, as some news organizations have decided to downsize their staff.

The Details: CNN (Lean Left bias) announced it will lay off about 200 employees, or 6% of its workforce, as part of a restructuring plan to shift focus towards digital operations. NBC News (Lean Left bias) is also planning layoffs this week on a smaller scale, with fewer than 50 job cuts expected. NBC hadn’t commented on the layoffs at the time of this writing.

CNN Memo: CNN CEO Mark Thompson said that CNN will soon unveil a new streaming service, “a redesigned digital footprint and new subscriber services as well as the new show line up,” according to a CNN report.

In a memo to staff, Thompson called the changes "an ongoing response by this great news organization to profound and irreversible shifts in the way audiences in America and around the world consume news,” and said CNN’s objective is “to shift CNN's gravity towards the platforms and products where the audience themselves are shifting and, by doing that, to secure CNN's future as one of the world's greatest news organizations."

How The Media Covered It: Daily Mail (Right bias) framed its article around a CNN insider who said the reason for the layoffs is that the TV network has become "bloated and overstaffed with people who do the bare minimum." On the other hand, The Associated Press (Left) cast the layoffs in a more positive light, emphasizing it as CNN restructuring toward digital operations, and highlighting the involvement of prominent personalities. CNBC (Center) reported that NBC plans to cut staff later this week, but “the job losses will be well under 50.”