Hollywood Reporter: CNN’s Mark Thompson Outlines Digital Future for Cable Channel, Unveils New Org Structure

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Mark Thompson’s vision for CNN is beginning to take shape.

In a wide-ranging memo titled “CNN’s Future” sent to staffers Wednesday morning, Thompson outlined a new organizational structure for the company, one built “around the future not the past.”

“We need to recapture some of the swagger and innovation of the early CNN,” Thompson wrote. “It’s time for a new revolution.

“There’s news of a fair amount of change at CNN in this memo, and no doubt more in the coming months,” he wrote. “Change is essential if we’re to secure this great news company’s future. It brings uncertainty — that I’m afraid is inevitable — but in my experience, it’s also often rich in personal and shared opportunity. As we enter this new chapter in CNN’s storied history, I’d encourage you to take a leaf out of Ted Turner’s book. Let’s build with confidence. Let’s fulfill our mission. Let’s learn some new tricks. Let’s look after each other. Let’s have some fun.”

Thompson outlined a CNN where digital is at the heart of the offering, and acknowledged that amid a rapidly declining pay-TV business, CNN “has been slow to respond to the challenge.

“Perhaps that’s not surprising: the CNN of today is no longer that buccaneering outsider but a tenured incumbent,” he added. “You still see our strength when big stories break. We still sport brilliant on-air, digital and producing talent and have one of the world’s most visited news websites. But, despite all these strengths, there’s currently too little innovation and risk-taking.”

Thompson outlined a vision that includes new types of content, such as new products, offerings and possibly subscriptions, including linear offerings that can “complement” CNN Max.

“For many people today, the smartphone is a more important device for consuming news than the TV,” Thompson writes. “Their news primetime is in the morning not the evening. Video remains key but the news video that most people under 40 watch is vertical not horizontal and, because neither we nor any other established news provider offer a compelling video-led news experience, they often find their news on generic video and social apps. Many get to know CNN reporting and CNN anchors on YouTube or TikTok without connecting them with CNN at all.”

As for CNN’s future on cable TV, Thompson writes that the channel remains “one of the jewels in our crown and I believe that linear TV will play a central and vital role in CNN’s success as far out as the eye can see.”

That being said, Thompson suggested that CNN’s linear channels will face belt-tightening:

“Even after cable consumption began to fall, there was a period of strong revenue growth from cable subscriptions in the mid-2010s and some of that unexpected bounty ended up as raised production costs that now look difficult to support given the changing economics across our industry,” he writes. “I firmly believe that financial success and sustainability fund our journalism and afford us more independence to focus on what we do best. So, in addition to quality and performance improvement, expect to see us also looking hard at how best to put our TV production machine on a sustainable footing without weakening either the calibre of our journalism or the distinctiveness of our output.”

Thompson’s leadership team will include Alex MacCallum, who will rejoin CNN as executive vp digital products and services after serving as The Washington Post’s chief revenue officer. MacCallum previously was part of the CNN+ launch team, and before that spent years working alongside Thompson at The New York Times.

He also announced that Virginia Moseley would become CNN’s first executive editor, with Mike McCarthy as managing editor. The two will lead a combined newsroom that includes linear and digital, domestic and international. David Leavy will continue as COO, with Ken Jautz reporting to him as executive vp operations.

Eric Sherling will continue to oversee programming, while Amy Entelis continues to lead talent and CNN Originals.

In fact, Thompson suggested that CNN would be reversing its strategy of abandoning original series.

“I’m a strong supporter of news adjacent content and topical entertainment and plan both to reinvest in Originals and to experiment more boldly alongside our core news offering,” he wrote.

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