Former NYT Chief Mark Thompson Considered as Candidate to Lead CNN Amid Challenges

Former NYT Chief Mark Thompson Considered as Candidate to Lead CNN Amid Challenges

Edited by: TJVNews.com

Former CEO of The New York Times, Mark Thompson, has emerged as a leading contender to take over the reins at CNN after the departure of Chris Licht, according to a recent report in the New York Post. Thompson, 66, who headed The New York Times from 2012 to 2020, is among a select few being considered for the challenging role of revitalizing the struggling cable news network, news site Semafor reported Wednesday.

The task at hand is formidable, as CNN has been grappling with declining ratings and a tight budget for attracting new talent. The Post also reported that industry insiders have expressed skepticism about Thompson’s potential success, given the significant challenges he would face. One media executive remarked, “I don’t see how you can run a news operation like that,” referring to the difficulties of managing a news outlet with declining viewership and limited resources. He also said that Thompson, like the former CNN chief Chris Licht, who was ousted from his position at the network, would face an uphill climb.

Thompson’s career is marked by his transformative roles in media leadership. As was reported by the Post, Thompson served as the Director-General of the BBC and also held the position of CEO at the UK-based Channel 4. His accomplishments include steering The New York Times through a shift from a print-oriented business model to a digital-centric one, significantly boosting its subscriber base in the process.

The news channel, which is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, has been run by a trio of veterans since Licht’s termination in June, The troika includes Amy Entelis, Virginia Moseley, and Eric Sherling.

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav hired Licht to replace Jeff Zucker, who was pushed out last year after it was learned that he had been carrying on a years-long relationship with his top marketing officer, Allison Gollust, the Post reported.

Licht was given a mandate to boost network ratings by moving CNN closer to the political center after the tumultuous Trump presidency. In June, Licht was let go just days after a devastating profile in The Atlantic magazine portrayed him as a thin-skinned, insecure leader who lost the confidence of the network’s top stars — many of whom remained loyal to his predecessor, Zucker, according to the Post report.

Thompson’s credentials are further underlined by his current role as chairman of the board of Ancestry, a genealogy company headquartered in Utah, the Post reported. While he’s largely stayed out of the limelight since leaving The New York Times, Thompson’s ability to navigate media landscapes is evident.

His expertise in steering traditional media outlets toward digital innovation could position him well to address CNN’s challenges. The Post report indicated that an insider at CNN emphasized that Thompson’s track record aligns with the network’s need for a fresh approach. The source highlighted the need to prioritize digital revenue, given the decline in linear TV viewership.

The CNN source also told the Post that, “It’s not a programming job,” an apparent swipe at Licht, who held stints as executive producer of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” as well as “CBS This Morning,” among other things.

“We need someone to come in and rethink how we approach things,” the source added, explaining that CNN’s digital revenue needs to be a priority in the face of its shrinking linear TV business, according to the Post report.

Thompson’s past observations about the TV news industry’s challenges resonate in this context. The Post report said that in 2021, he noted that the US TV news sector was facing significant difficulties, particularly among younger audiences. Thompson’s insight into the evolving media landscape could provide a foundation for reshaping CNN’s strategy, the Post report added.

“News feels like a particularly old-fashioned style of broadcasting aimed entirely at older audiences,” Thompson said, as was reported by the Post.

“I live in the US and [TV news] seems completely unchanged since the 1980s. I think it is in dead trouble.”

While Thompson’s potential appointment has yet to be confirmed, his history of transforming established media organizations suggests he may bring a much-needed perspective to CNN, as was stated in the Post report.

As Thompson’s potential role unfolds, it remains to be seen whether his strategic vision can guide CNN toward renewed success in an ever-evolving media landscape. With challenges aplenty, including a competitive race for cable news ratings against rivals Fox News and MSNBC, the choice of leadership could be a pivotal moment for the network’s future trajectory.