Insiders say the defamation lawsuit involving CNN and fears that it could result in a large payout to the plaintiff are the main concerns of the network's management, all while rank-and-file employees are already suffering from low ratings and pending cuts.
CNN is already competing with declining viewership Upcoming layoffs have been reported As she prepares to cover Trump's upcoming second presidency.
She is also now in a public defamation trial over a 2021 clip that plaintiff Zach Young claims defamed him by implying he illegally profited from helping people flee Afghanistan on the “black market” during his rule. Biden administration Military withdrawal from the country.
“It's a major concern for senior management,” an insider told CNN. Fox News Digital. “All the damn stuff, the text messages, etc. have already been published. So I don't think there's a concern in terms of it coming out. But I think there's definitely a concern about the outcome. It seems very likely that CNN will publish it.” Massive payout at the end of this.”
CNN host Jake Tapper and reporter Alex Marquardt during a 2021 segment amid a defamation lawsuit against the network. (CNN/screenshot)
Young argues that CNN “destroyed his reputation and business” by describing him as an illegal profiteer who took advantage of “desperate Afghans” during a segment that first aired on November 11, 2021 on CNN's “The Lead with Jake Tapper.”
The discovery process led to some embarrassing revelations, such as internal communications among CNN employees that showed editors were concerned about the initial segment but aired it anyway. Further communications revealed that CNN employees used profanity and derogatory language when discussing Young privately. Young also showed a message of caution CNN correspondent Alex MarquardtWho reported the clip said he would seek legal damages if he followed the story.
However, since this is all about part of 2021, the CNN insider added that this is not a topic of regular conversation about the network's rules.
Another CNN source said the lawsuit represented a “huge risk” but said the network's lawyers felt good about the outcome. But, they added, because of the potential for layoffs and ongoing classification issues, there are plenty of other things to worry about.
CNN loses to FOOD NETWORK as the network's prime-time viewership declines
US Navy veteran Zachary Young believes CNN “ruined his reputation and business” by calling him an illegal scalper who took advantage of “desperate Afghans” during a segment that first aired November 11, 2021 on The Lead with Jake Tapper On CNN.
“I don't know if this is going to work or not,” they said. “But for some reason it hasn't permeated the organization at all.” “This may be because the organization is exposed to daily toxic shock and crisis status, so there are bigger moral fish to fry.”
“Valuations, downgrades, confusion about strategy, all of the above,” they said. “And it's not something that's unique to CNN, but it's something that's acute at CNN.”
CNN CEO Mark Thompson, who took over in 2023 after CEO Chris Licht was ousted, did not deny to staff at a town hall this week that layoffs were imminent. According to reports.
Facebook News Reported in November It is expected that “hundreds” of CNN employees will be affected by layoffs in the coming months as Thompson aims to implement the priority in the digital space. Thompson, who has been credited with reviving The New York Times' business model, has already begun tinkering with CNN, rolling out a subscription plan for its news site last year.
CNN, along with progressive outlet MSNBC, Saw ratings collapse After the victory of President-elect Donald Trump. CNN hit another new low in December, ending the year with its smallest single-day total audience in the network's history, with 91,000 in the 25-54 demo and 481,000 in total viewers.
CNN President Mark Thompson will take over the network in 2023. (Sanjeet Das/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
CNN's first insider praised Thompson's leadership, but said people were still concerned about the industry-wide headwinds that led to layoffs in And other major media institutions Over the past year, he has represented The Washington Post, HuffPost Time, and the Los Angeles Times.
“I think right now people still feel like this is a very uncertain time in the business in general, so I think there's still a sense of what's going to happen to CNN, that people don't really know about that.” He said.
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Fox News Digital has reached out to a CNN spokesperson for comment.
Fox News' Joseph A. Wolfson and Brian Flood contributed to this report.
