CNN will lay off nearly 6% of its roughly 210-person workforce as it refocuses its business on a global digital audience, CNBC reported. In a memo to employees Thursday, CNN CEO Mark Thompson said he doesn’t expect the company’s total headcount to turn down “many, many” this year.
“We know that whatever the total number of job losses, the impact on those involved could be enormous,” he wrote in the memo.
The layoffs come as CNN looks to rebuild its linear television lineup and expand its digital subscription offerings. These cuts are part of a broader effort to reduce production costs and consolidate teams, with some shows moving from New York or Washington to Atlanta, where production costs are lower, according to a CNBC report. Possibly.
The majority of job layoffs do not affect CNN’s high-profile employees currently under contract. The Warner Bros. Discovery-owned network has approximately 3,500 employees worldwide.
The American News giant unveiled multiple new initiatives in its memo. The company is developing new options for digital users to stream CNN outside of CNN MAX. It is available within Warner Bros. It also plans to announce more content “in the coming months.”
In October, CNN established a digital paywall, charging users $3.99 per month. The company aims to generate $1 billion in revenue by 2030.
Despite the job openings, CNN plans to hire at least 100 new employees in the coming months to support its digital expansion. News organizations are also revising their linear television schedules in the United States and abroad.
In the summer of 2024, the news organization cut approximately 3% of its workforce, or 100 people, as it reorganized its newsgathering operations.
Among other news networks, NBC News is also reportedly planning to hire, although the exact number is unclear. According to sources, unemployment could be less than 50.
Earlier this month, the Washington Post said it would lay off about 4% of its workforce, or fewer than 100 employees, to cut costs as the organization struggles with rising losses, Reuters reported.
Prior to this, the Associated Press in November said it would lay off about 8% of its workforce as it seeks to modernize its operations and products.
