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    New CNN CEO Lays Out Fresh Direction for Network – Does He Actually ‘Get it?’

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    New CNN CEO Lays Out Fresh Direction for Network – Does He Actually ‘Get it?’


    Could it be that CNN is finally beginning to “get it?” Stranger things have happened, but then again we live in strange times.

    On Tuesday, new CNN Worldwide Chairman and CEO Chris Licht held a company-wide Q & A session along with CNN anchor Alisyn Camerota.

    There were many things discussed, including looming cuts and layoffs. But one topic in particular was of interest: the network’s coverage going forward of former President Donald Trump, who announced a 2024 bid for the White House on Tuesday.

    At least initially, Licht, who took over operations of the network in April, seems to want to veer away from the sensationalistic, all-Trump all-the-time coverage favored by his predecessor Jeff Zucker.

    RELATED: Report: Democrat Seeking to Use 14th Amendment to Bar Trump From Office

    Slow Change

    Licht said, in what could be groundbreaking rhetoric for CNN saying, “we have to be different than before.”

    The admissions and the tone from Licht are already a massive change from what we saw over the last 7 years. He added in covering Trump, the network cannot “allow the craziness to consume us” and that they shouldn’t “fall for the outrage porn.”

    Now, if Licht can apply that same attitude to all news, not just Trump, we may really have something: Actual news.

    Chris Licht may seem like a breath of fresh air for the ratings-challenged network, but he has been in the news arena for a while. Prior to taking the helm at CNN, he was the Executive Vice President of Special Programming at CBS starting in 2016. 

    Because of that time spent in the media bubble, as Licht explained his view of Donald Trump’s media strategy, he couldn’t help but inject a slight bit of snark into what might otherwise have been a fairly sensible explanation.

    He stated, “Part of his (Trump) strategy is to make sure that everything he does gets a lot of coverage, so that when he slips in something that’s really consequential, like a coup, it feels like noise. And I don’t want us to succumb to that.”

    Of course, that goes both ways. Part of the media’s strategy is to make sure every breath he takes gets coverage, and negative coverage at that.

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    Not There Yet

    While all the other major networks did not cover Trump’s 2024 announcement, CNN covered the first 25 minutes. 

    And if you were expecting immediate changes, whatever Licht has in mind will take some time. 

    The post-speech panel did consist of two former Trump administration aides, but it was a sleight of hand. Former Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney and Director of Strategic Communications and Assistant to the President Alyssa Farah Griffin are notably vocal critics of Trump. 

    Any significant change happens slowly. But CNN loyalists are not happy about Chris Licht or his new vision for their beloved network.

    Some viewers feel as if Licht has gone a bit too right for their tastes.

    And some feel as if CNN is just not as reliable as they used to be.

    Good luck Mr. Licht. The change you seek may be a bit like herding cats.

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