Date: 4th December 2000

Sweeping Changes To Hit CNN


Painting a picture of profligacy run rampant at CNN, the New York Times today (Monday) reported that the news channel's new president, Steven J. Heyer, is planning sweeping "efficiencies" in personnel and programming that will eliminate hundreds of positions in the coming weeks.

The newspaper, which cited longtime staff members, commented that Heyer's planned financial adjustments at CNN "clearly mark the end of an era where all decisions went through people bred solely in a culture of journalism," who appeared to be unfettered in their effort to cover the news.

The result, the Times indicated, was that stories were duplicated by various units, many produced segments never were aired, and "one division did not know what another was doing" -- all while newer, leaner news channels were siphoning away CNN's audience.

Source: Studio Briefing