Monday, June 23, 2025

CNN to Implement Cost-Cutting Measures


CNN is preparing to roll out cost-cutting initiatives, including salary reductions for its employees, according to Status. Starting July 1, staff will be required to submit receipts with expense reports for activities such as source meetings and travel.

The network’s anchors and correspondents are also facing pay cuts as competitors achieve comparable or better ratings at lower costs. This follows reports of high anxiety among CNN staff, with over half a dozen employees expressing concerns to Status. The network made headlines recently when it was announced that it would be spun off from Warner Bros. Discovery to a new entity, Global Networks, led by Warner Bros. Discovery CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels, known for aggressive cost-cutting.

Employees who weathered previous layoffs under Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav anticipate further uncertainty. One staffer told Status, “Everyone is wary and tired, and there is so much change that we don’t understand what direction the company is going in.” Another described a lack of confidence in leadership, while a third speculated that CNN might not survive in the long term.

Despite the unease, Wiedenfels expressed optimism in a staff memo titled “Excitement for the Future,” emphasizing CNN’s editorial independence. However, the memo failed to lift morale. Adding to the tension, two senior executives, Laura Bernardini (vice president of domestic news) and Jacque Smith (vice president for digital video), are departing after 28 and 17 years, respectively.

Speculation also surrounds CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, who reportedly hired a top Hollywood agent, amid news of his $18 million annual salary. CNN, along with other struggling Warner Bros. Discovery cable channels like HGTV, TBS, TNT, and the Food Network, will be part of the Global Networks spinoff.