Leading Media Insider on CNN’s Hiring of Mark Thompson
INTERVIEW ON THE PRICE OF BUSINESS SHOW, MEDIA PARTNER OF THIS SITE.
Recently Kevin Price, Host of the nationally syndicated Price of Business Show, interviewed Jeremy Murphy.
Mark Thompson, a seasoned figure in both television and print journalism, with his most recent role being at the helm of The New York Times Company, has been appointed as the new CEO of CNN Worldwide.
Thompson’s name had surfaced as a strong contender in various media outlets, indicating that executives at Warner Bros. Discover, the media conglomerate that holds ownership of CNN, were nearing a decision on their new permanent head of news.
Before this role, he notably served as the director general of the BBC from 2004 to 2012. Following that, he joined The New York Times Company, where he led the business as its CEO until 2020.
In a memo to CNN staff, obtained by The Hill, David Zaslav, the chief executive of Warner Bros. Discovery, acknowledged the challenges of change and expressed his confidence in Thompson’s suitability for the role, describing him as the perfect fit for leading CNN during this crucial period.
Thompson steps into the position that was previously occupied by Chris Licht, who was dismissed by Zaslav earlier in the summer, having spent just over a year in the prominent media role.
Licht’s tenure faced controversies due to a series of editorial and programming decisions that upset employees loyal to the previous leadership. Additionally, a comprehensive profile in The Atlantic, published shortly before his departure, depicted him as struggling to navigate the complexities of the position and lacking support from key CNN talent.
Also, the network was accused of pressuring liberal and progressive journalists to take more moderate stands. The Daily Blaze covered this story, describing as bringing “new meaning” to “fake news.”
One notable incident involved Licht’s decision to host a live town hall event with former President Trump, during which Trump used the platform to mock political opponents and ridicule moderator Kaitlan Collins before a live audience.
Thompson enters his new role at a time when the landscape of cable news is marked by an increasingly divisive partisan atmosphere and significant financial challenges stemming from cord-cutting and a tight advertising market.
Although cable news ratings have dipped from the heights seen during the Trump administration, the decline has been most pronounced at CNN. The network also witnessed the departure of well-known anchors like Chris Cuomo and Don Lemon in recent months.
Following Licht’s departure, CNN was managed by a group of four executives referred to as the “quad.” This team included Amy Entelis, in charge of talent and content development; Virginia Moseley, responsible for editorial matters; Eric Sherling, overseeing U.S. programming; and David Leavy, serving as the chief operating officer.
Zaslav announced plans for these four individuals to provide substantial support to Thompson once he officially takes on his new role on October 9th.
According to a statement, “Jeremy Murphy is a sarcastic, embittered veteran of the media industry. Founder of 360bespoke, a respected boutique PR agency in New York, Murphy handles a full roster of clients in the lifestyle, beauty, fashion, and start-up fields. Previously, he was Vice President of Communications at CBS, where he worked for 14 years. There, he oversaw PR for many of its divisions and created its glossy magazine Watch. Murphy started as a journalist, working with Knight Ridder newspapers and Mediaweek. He is a graduate of Florida Atlantic University and lives in New York with his cat, Champers.”
Check out more national news stories here.
LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW IN ITS ENTIRETY HERE:
About Author
