CNN’s new boss orders network to dial back labeling everything ‘breaking news’

CNN is dialing again on its use of the "breaking information" banner.

CNN’s new boss Chris Licht is fed up with the community’s extreme use of the “breaking information” banner on its experiences, in accordance with a memo he circulated to employees.

Licht addressed the overuse of “breaking information” throughout the cable community as he shifts CNN away from the opinion-based programming pushed by his predecessor, Jeff Zucker.

“We're truth-tellers, targeted on informing, not alarming our viewers,” Licht stated a memo, which was obtained by Axios on Thursday.

The exec stated he agreed with complaints from “folks each inside and outdoors the group” that the community overuses the “Breaking Information” banner, although it has develop into a “fixture” in cable information.

CNN bureau chief Sam Feist has led a workforce in creating a brand new stylebook that gives tips for when to flash “Breaking Information,” the memo stated.

“You’ve already seen far much less of the ‘Breaking Information’ banner throughout our programming,” Licht wrote, including that the community remains to be tweaking the rules however will use the time period solely when “one thing BIG is occurring.”

CNN boss Chris Licht stated he desires the community to make use of the “breaking information” banner sparingly.

Getty Pictures for Warner Bros. Di

The transfer to vary CNN’s tone comes straight from David Zaslav, the CEO of CNN dad or mum Warner Bros. Discovery. Zaslav stated lately throughout a city corridor assembly that CNN must be about reality and information.

“If we get that, we are able to have a civilized society,” Zaslav stated on the time. “And with out it, if all of it turns into advocacy, we don’t have a civilized society.”

CNN has been below a microscope for a lot of the yr over its mishandling of high-profile scandals below former boss Zucker. Chief amongst them was Zucker’s dealing with of CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, whom he fired in December. The anchor was discovered to be secretly aiding the protection of his embattled older brother, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, over sexual harassment allegations that resulted in his resignation.

CNN has been focusing extra on journalistic information protection, and shifting away from opinion-based reporting.

As a part of his mandate, Licht has tasked community workers to observe the principles of a brand new type ebook that addresses breaking information tips.

Quickly after, Zucker resigned in February, citing a romantic relationship with a colleague. The imbroglio precipitated an uproar amongst CNN staffers, who had been offended about Zucker’s exit and the thought that Cuomo would get a large severance package deal, regardless of breaking journalistic requirements associated to protection of his brother.

However even earlier than that, billionaire media mogul John Malone — an in depth confidant of Zaslav — and a board member of the mixed firm, criticized CNN for its slanted protection.

“I want to see CNN evolve again to the form of journalism that it began with, and really have journalists, which might be distinctive and refreshing,” Malone stated throughout a CNBC interview final November. “I do consider good journalism may have a job on this future portfolio that Discovery-TimeWarner’s going to signify.”