Job Cuts Coming to CNN as Network Brand Turns Into Toxic Sludge

Despite the total commitment by network officials and employees to tie their entire brand to taking down President Trump, CNN’s risky strategy is beginning to look like a big loser.

Not only did a recent poll identify CNN as having the most toxic and polarizing name in the “news” business but now according to reports, the self-proclaimed “most trusted name in news” is going into layoff mode.

In a coming move to slice costs, CNN will be dumping a least fifty employees after failing to meet revenue projections. Gee, I wonder why.

The news comes via a Vanity Fair report that cites “people familiar with the matter” in a delightful and ironic twist of the knife into the network that routinely uses anonymous sources to push fake news.

CNN PREPS FOR DOZENS OF LAYOFFS… https://t.co/YrsHSviAQw

— DRUDGE REPORT (@DRUDGE_REPORT) February 13, 2018

Via The Hill “CNN set for layoffs: report”:

CNN, which just one year ago was touting an ambitious digital strategy, is planning to lay off as many as 50 people, Vanity Fair reported on Monday.

The layoffs are expected to come this week and will hit CNN staff around the world who work on digital businesses such as CNN Money, video, product, tech and social publishing, the magazine reported. The exact number of layoffs is still not clear.

According to Vanity Fair’s reporting, CNN will curtail some high-profile digital initiatives such as their virtual reality and Snapchat production efforts. The team that produces digital extensions for some of the network’s documentary-style shows is reportedly going to be reorganized.

CNN, reports @JoePompeo, is planning on eliminating as many as 50 jobs across the globe later this week https://t.co/AeJcy8SuLo

— VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) February 12, 2018

Vanity Fair fleshes out some of the additional details:

But despite the so-called Trump Bump, CNN appears to be re-thinking at least some elements of its digital strategy. I’ve learned that CNN, a key property in AT&T’s planned takeover of CNN’s parent company, Time Warner, is targeting big savings on the digital side, with as many as 50 jobs around the globe scheduled to be eliminated this week, according to people familiar with the matter, who noted the exact number could still be in flux. The cuts will affect employees who work in premium businesses including CNN Money, video, product, tech and social publishing, these people said. Several high profile digital initiatives are being scaled back, including CNN’s virtual reality productions and its efforts on Snapchat, where CNN recently nixed a live daily webcast after just four months.

AND

The looming cuts may not be altogether Earth-shattering for an institution with thousands of employees around the world and $1 billion in annual profits. But one imagines they will at least further rattle nerves within a company already beset by a fair amount of uncertainty, which largely centers around how long Zucker will remain after AT&T’s $85 billion acquisition of Time Warner, assuming the Department of Justice doesn’t succeed in its efforts to scuttle the deal. A trial to adjudicate that matter is set to kick off on March 19 in Washington, D.C.

The truth? You can just never watch this one too many times!

.@realDonaldTrump lays the smackdown on cnn AGAIN! #CNNBlackmail pic.twitter.com/GQ8FYqJcLL

— Vidgeo (@thevidgeo) July 14, 2017

HE BROKE THEM!