Politics
CNN Demotes Senior Newsroom Director In Yet Another Network Shakeup
As CNN continues to chart a path to recovery after a post-election ratings collapse, the network is reportedly undergoing another major shakeup, this time with its D.C. newsroom. CNN has made considerable changes to its morning, afternoon and primetime lineups, as well its newsroom coverage, after former network boss Chris Licht stepped down when his quest to pull the network in a more centrist direction failed.
Phillip Rucker, a former senior editor at the Washington Post, has replaced senior vice president Adam Levine as the chief of CNN’s Washington D.C. operations. Rucker previously oversaw the robust CNN D.C. bureau, though he has seen his role shrink dramatically in recent weeks.
According to Status’ newsletter from former CNN employee Oliver Darcy, Levine’s role has been reduced to running the network’s investigative team and a new “hub desk.”
According to the report, Levine was “caught off guard by the sudden power shift” and was “uncomfortable” when executive editor Virginia Moseley announced the changes during a meeting this past Thursday. “There’s no question, he was demoted,” one CNN staffer told Status on the condition of anonymity.
Rucker will now be overseeing a wide range of CNN’s most important operations, including breaking news, enterprise, White House coverage, Capitol Hill, justice department matters and national security.
Rucker previously worked at the ‘Washington Post’ before joining CNN back in January
The latest changes come as the network continues to hone in its coverage of the Trump Administration. Former CNN director of Allison Hoffman also “quietly” left the company earlier this month, highlighting the ongoing changes at the network that has been in a seemingly constant state of flux since former president Jeff Zucker left the company in 2022.
CEO Mark Thompson announced earlier this year that the company would be laying off roughly six percent of its workforce due to restructuring. In a memo to employees, Thompson said that the overall headcount might not significantly decrease this year due to a planned $70 million investment in digital initiatives.
“I know that whatever the total number of job losses, the impact on the individuals involved can be immense,” Thompson said in a memo obtained by CNBC. “The process of change is essential if we’re to thrive in the future, but I both acknowledge and regret its very real human consequences.”
According to sources familiar with the situation, the job cuts at CNN are aimed at reducing production costs and consolidating teams. Some shows currently produced in New York or Washington may be relocated to Atlanta, where production costs are lower.
