CNN lays off 200 staff, embarks on $70 million digital strategy

CNN has announced layoffs affecting roughly 6% of its workforce, translating to around 200 positions, as part of a strategic shift towards a digital-first operation amid declining viewership. The network's parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, is investing $70 million to revamp CNN's approach, which includes launching a new streaming service and enhancing digital content offerings. CEO Mark Thompson emphasized the need for CNN to adapt to changing audience behaviors, with plans to create new jobs in digital journalism despite the layoffs. The decision reflects broader industry trends of cord-cutting and the challenges faced by legacy cable networks. CNN's viewership has significantly decreased, averaging 578,000 prime-time viewers in recent months, prompting urgent action to secure its future. Thompson reassured staff that the goal is not merely to cut costs but to strategically invest in the network's evolution as a leading news organization.