CNN is considering a revamp of its anchor lineup, with less reliance on opinionated anchors like Don Lemon - a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump - and Brianna Keilar, in favor of the likes of White House Chief Correspondent Kaitlan Collins, after profits were projected to fall below $1 billion, a first since 2016. 
The news network, spearheaded by new chief, Chris Licht, formerly of CBS News, is shifting back toward reporting straight news rather than airing discussion panels between opinionated contributors often criticizing Republican policies in favor of liberal ones.
'CNN seems to be moving back more toward straight news and away from some of the blatant opinion-mongering by its anchors that characterized its past few years,' Mark Feldstein, chairman[url=]that Licht's vision and new management style is worrisome to the network's star personalities, like Anderson Cooper and Don Lemon worried, as they were 'used to being treated like stars, not staff.' 





CNN is considering recalling Kaitlan Collins, CNN's Chief White House correspondent, back in- house to improve the news network's ratings and reputation in favor of some of the channel's opinionated anchors






Chris Licht took over at CNN in May and is seeking to make changes throughout the company to help viewers regain trust in the media

The pair were well-liked by former CNN boss Jeff Zucker, who resigned in February over his relationship with the channel's chief marketing officer, Allison Gollust, often socializing with one another and chatting about company gossip.
'Chris' first priority will be fixing CNN's morning and primetime programming,' the insider source told Radar. 'That is where the big advertiser money is. Anderson Cooper, Don Lemon, and the morning hosts should be concerned.'
Licht is also eyeing CNN correspondent Jamie Gangel and is rumored to wanting to bring in late-night TV talk show host Stephen Colbert, with whom he worked during his time at CBS News, as well as other familiar names including MSNBC 'Morning Joe' co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, according to Radar. 
The relatively new CNN boss wants to emulate the success he found at CBS News, where the network's 'CBS This Morning' show climbed to third in rankings of the most watching morning news shows in the U.S., behind NBC's 'Today' and ABC's 'Good Morning America.' 
Licht also helped CBS expand its profits by replacing movie stars on 'Late Show With Stephen Colbert' with news and political commentators during his time as executive producer. 










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Chris Marlin, who has a background in law and served as president of a real estate company in Florida, was hired in May to serve as the head of strategy and business operations. Marlin has thrown around ideas, such as expanding CNN into China

On his first day in May, he said the network would move away from opinion-led shows that have dominated the company.
Licht said he wanted to focus on 'straightforward facts' and 'insightful commentary' as 'too many people have lost trust in the media.'
In a memo to his staff Licht said: 'I think we can be a beacon in regaining that trust by being an organization that exemplifies the best characteristics of journalism: fearlessly speaking truth to power, challenging the status quo, questioning 'group-think' and educating viewers and readers with straightforward facts and insightful commentary, while always being respectful of differing viewpoints.'
The 50-year-old continued: 'First and foremost, we should, and we will be advocates for the truth.'
Despite the dip in profit, Licht anticipates profits will increase in 2023 as he focusing on expanding the network with 'editorial guidance' rather than a 'business strategy,' a spokesperson told the . 
He has ordered staff to stop using the phrase 'the big lie' to describe Donald Trump's 2020 election fraud claims, as it's a Democrat slogan.
Hosts like 'Reliable Sources' Brian Stelter are often fond of the phrase to the point where they use it prominently in graphic packages and chyrons.
But Licht has ordered Stelter and other journalists to stop, and has suggested 'Trump's election lie' or 'election lie' as possible replacements.
He issued the edict days after warning staff over their incessant use of 'BREAKING NEWS' graphics on stories, which he said was melodramatic, and ultimately diluted the power of big stories when they did break.




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Licht said in a memo sent out to CNN staff on his first day in the new job saying the company will be 'advocates for the truth'

Licht is also said to be keen to move the well-resourced network back towards neutral news coverage, with CNN hailed over its coverage of the Ukraine war and other big international news stories.
The CNN boss also specifically wants on-air talent, producers and bookers to make programming decisions that are focused on 'nuance' and don't tarnish the CNN brand, which was once regarded as 'the most trusted name in news. 
CNN was frequently a target for conservatives, a trend supercharged by former President Donald Trump's 'fake news' label. Some liberals believe it should have been tougher on Trump, while others recognized a 'witch hunt' against No. 45.
During Trump's 2017-2021 presidency, the network's ratings climbed due to Zucker's strategy to include commentary and opinion 'to fight for the truth.'
However, since Trump's departure from the Oval Office, CNN has seen its ratings fall from 700 million viewers aged 25 to 54 at the end of the fourth quarter in 2020 to below 200 million by the end of 2021, according to The Financial Times.






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[url=]CNN May Revamp Anchor Lineup as New Bosses Make Changes - Variety





[url=]CNN Profits Are Down as Ratings Plummet - The New York Times