CNN Worldwide CEO Mark Thompson has detailed the “one newsroom” strategy to merge linear and digital newsgathering. This restructuring will lead to a reduction of about 100 staff members, a small portion of CNN’s 3,500 employees.
CNN to launch subscription product
Thompson announced that CNN.com will introduce its first subscription product later this year.
This initiative aims to enhance user engagement and increase visit frequency by offering high-quality lifestyle journalism.
The paid service will build on CNN.com’s extensive reach.
“We want to build on CNN.com’s reach with a new focus on engagement and frequency – how long our users spend with us and how often they return – by improving the quality of the product experience and giving users powerful reasons to come back to us more often,” Thompson wrote in a memo to employees.
CNN will also launch additional FAST channels, including CNN Originals and CNN en Español, joining the existing CNN and CNN International FAST channels. This expansion will diversify content and broaden CNN’s digital footprint.
Staff reductions and restructuring
The staff reductions are part of a broader effort to restructure CNN’s operations. Thompson previously indicated these cuts in a memo, emphasizing efforts to close open positions to minimize the impact on current employees.
However, some employees will be informed their roles are being eliminated. Thompson expressed gratitude for their contributions.
He wrote, “Wherever possible, we’ve closed open positions rather than target currently occupied roles. However, some of our colleagues will learn today that their jobs are being eliminated or are at risk. The number of colleagues potentially impacted is around a hundred out of a workforce of more than 3,500, but I don’t underestimate the impact this news is likely to have on everyone affected and want to thank them for everything they’ve done for this great news company over the years.”
Integration of operations
The “one newsroom” strategy will integrate CNN’s U.S. newsgathering, international newsgathering, and global digital news into a single organization led by Virginia Moseley.
This unified team will serve all platforms, streamlining operations and reducing redundancies.
Domestic and international news desks will maintain specializations but will collaborate closely and share resources for major breaking stories.
“Domestic and international news desks will retain their domestic and international specialisms for now, but will work more closely together, and come together to share resources for big breaking stories,” Thompson wrote.
“Those who previously worked as a digital news writer or editor, or news desk producer or editor, working in separate structures and performing often duplicative tasks, will join unified teams in the US and our main international hubs.”
New roles and changes to digital video team
A new role of “story manager” will oversee the lifecycle of a story from inception to publication. The digital video team will be embedded throughout coverage, working with editorial and deployment teams to enhance digital content integration.
The fact-checking team will be involved from the beginning of the reporting process, ensuring accuracy and reliability.
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