“Behind the Scenes of CNN Leadership: A Deep Dive into the Damaging Exposé”

Investigative Profile on Chris Licht, Chairman and CEO of CNN Worldwide

Recently, the media industry news has been abuzz with The Atlantic’s Tim Alberta’s 15,000-word piece, “Inside the Meltdown at CNN,” which paints a brutal portrait of Chris Licht, the head of one of the world’s most famous, consequential and profitable brands. Licht believed so much in his plan to reinvent cable news that he allowed extraordinary, months-long access to Alberta, who used that opportunity to write a scathing exposé of his subject. The result is a devastating revelation of a leader who has lost the support of CNN staff and perhaps the man who matters most, his boss, David Zaslav, the President and CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery.

The Power and Consequence of CNN Worldwide

As one of the biggest contributors to cable news, CNN affects people’s perspective significantly, and the leadership at CNN has a considerable responsibility to report the truth and do so in an unbiased manner. With an average monthly audience of more than 89 million in the U.S. alone, CNN is one of the world’s most famous and profitable news brands. It is vital that the leadership of such a powerful company must be able to lead with integrity and inspire trust among its employees and audience. Furthermore, due to its global reach, CNN has the power to influence foreign affairs, which it has done throughout its history. So, when such a company is mired in scandal and controversy, it is a cause for concern.

The Background on the Exposé

Alberta’s 15,000-word piece, “Inside the Meltdown at CNN,” is causing the biggest backlash on six points. It is worth discussing these six points and its implications for CNN and journalistic integrity:

Town Hall Debacle

Backstage in New Hampshire last month, Licht told former President Trump: “Have fun.” Alberta reported that “Trump obliged.” Licht knew in advance that the audience was what he called “extra Trumpy” — meaning people in favor of Trump — a phrase that lit up internal Slack channels. The consequence was that “The only one who wasn’t angry, it seemed, was Trump, most likely because he’d succeeded in disgracing the network on its own airwaves.”

Lost the Room

“People at CNN think he’s projecting this persona of a bulletproof badass because that’s what Zaslav wants to see. … Licht’s circle was small and getting smaller … . Whereas he was guarded with CNN employees, our many hours of conversations began to feel like therapy sessions for Licht, safe spaces in which he vented grievances.”

Bad Judgment on Big Moves

“Licht’s theory of CNN — what had gone wrong, how to fix it, and why doing so could lift the entire industry — made a lot of sense. The execution of that theory? Another story. Every move he made, big programming decisions and small tactical maneuvers alike, seemed to backfire. … “Journalism. Being trusted. Everyone has an agenda, trying to shape events or shape thought. There has to be a source of absolute truth.”

Obsessed with Press

“At a holiday dinner for his D.C.-based talent at Café Milano, Licht spent much of the dinner looking at his phone, including ‘reading a critical story about him in Puck.'”

Obsessed with Predecessor, Jeff Zucker

“Licht, who went from 226 pounds to 178 via a celebrity trainer, told Alberta why he was skipping a meal: ‘I’m a fucking machine.’ Working out at his Manhattan gym, Licht ‘squatted down to grab a long metal pole lying flat on the ground. “Zucker couldn’t do this shit,’ Licht said through clenched teeth, hoisting the pole with a grunt.”

Mocks his Own Staff’s Zucker-era COVID Coverage

“Licht ‘slapped his palms on the table between us, mimicking the feverish pace of an imaginary broadcaster. ‘COVID, COVID, COVID! Look at the case numbers! … No context. And, you know, the kind of shaming.'”

Implications for Leadership and Editorial Integrity

CNN is revered for its adherence to journalistic integrity. But now, many stakeholders within CNN have come forward to shun Chris Licht, who appears to have lost both trust and respect. The six points outlined in The Atlantic’s article highlight a pattern of behavior that could result in a compromise of the editorial integrity of CNN. The loss of credibility and leadership can have damning effects on not only the outlet’s reputation but also journalism as a whole.

Conclusion and Advice

The exposé of Licht’s poor leadership at CNN is an example of how transparency and accountability are crucial for building and maintaining trust. As a leader of a significant media brand, Licht owed it to CNN‘s audience and his team to conduct himself appropriately. Licht’s behavior hints at a leadership style that is vulnerable and self-serving. To rebuild the trust of the staff and viewers, CNN‘s leadership should place a premium on providing authentic and transparent leadership. The situation at CNN is a cautionary tale of the power dynamics in media brands and the implications of poor leadership decisions.