CNN, the famous news network, has some big news of its own! It plans to transform how it delivers its news, and this means around 100 people at the company will lose their jobs. But don’t worry, our mates at CNN are going to be as supportive as they can be during this transition. The goal is simple: CNN wants to get more digital and explore artificial intelligence, or AI.
CEO Shares Future Plans
Mark Thompson, the big boss of CNN, spelled it out in a note to his team. He’s set big goals to kick off digital products, including a paid subscription service. This fancy service is set to hit our screens by the end of this year. Lifestyle journalism and a push into AI are parts of the plan.
About 3% of CNN’s workforce is going to be impacted by this change. Most of these will be positions that are currently open, but, sadly, a few folks who are in roles will also be affected. Thompson said, “We’ve tried our best to close open roles, but a few colleagues will lose their jobs.”
Changing to Digital and AI
So, what’s next for CNN? It’s all about being more digital-focused, said Thompson. He emphasizes moving away from text to videos, which is an area CNN rocks at. He strongly believes that video should be at the heart of what CNN does in the future.
They’re also planning to brush up their free, ad-supported streaming services. We can expect fresh content focusing on CNN Originals and CNN en Español.
As far as AI goes, Thompson sees potential to get smarter in how they deliver news.
Innovations in TV and Streaming
Our world is ever-changing, and the way we consume news and TV is no exception. Thompson plans to dive into this shift by setting up a ‘TV futures lab’. Eric Sherling is going to lead this lab, which is all about developing streaming and video on demand (VOD) programs.
Charlie Moore, another honcho at CNN, will be focusing on making their network stronger, which brings in the possibility of exciting changes.
Joining Up the Newsrooms
CNN is merging their domestic and international newsrooms for a more streamlined process. This means barriers between TV and digital, as well as text and video journalism, will disappear. The key is enabling more efficient work and better sharing of resources.
Exploring New Revenue Paths
In order to counter drops in traditional revenue, CNN is venturing into new money-making opportunities, like licensing deals for its video archive and expanding its free ad-supported TV (FAST) channels. A special group will work on growth areas, including making money from digital audiences and new streaming and VOD options.
Important Cultural and Operational Shifts
Apart from these changes, a committee called the ‘Culture Committee’ is working to resolve internal challenges, and make CNN a better place to work. They’re concentrating on better teamwork, transparency, professional development, and diversity.
Surviving the Cut
Despite people losing jobs, Thompson promises to offer all the support possible, including severance packages and help finding new jobs. He wants the CNN team to participate in this transformation. He summed up his note saying, “I hope that, wherever you work at CNN, you’ll help successfully implement our plans.”
So, it’s clear that CNN is radically changing its approach to suit our fast-paced, digital-first world. By harnessing new tech and adapting to changes in how we receive information, CNN aims to stay on top of our screens and in our hearts.
For more details, visit Project Casting Blog on https://www.projectcasting.com/blog/news/cnn-announces-major-layoffs/