CNN faces leadership uncertainty as Paramount Skydance merger nears completion

The $110 billion merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery has cleared a major legal hurdle following a settlement with California Attorney General Rob Bonta. The deal, which will see Paramount Skydance take control of CNN in October, includes provisions for a news editorial independence board composed of established journalists to monitor reporting fairness and mitigate ownership influence.

In response to the merger, CNN columnist Kara Swisher announced on her ‘Pivot’ podcast that she intends to leave the network as soon as her contract expires on December 31. Swisher expressed a lack of confidence in the incoming ownership, specifically citing David and Larry Ellison, stating she does not wish to work for them.

Internal morale at CNN is reportedly low, with some staff describing the atmosphere as ‘like a funeral’ due to fears of leadership changes, potential layoffs, and shifts in editorial direction. Concerns have been raised regarding the potential for a rightward editorial shift, drawing comparisons to recent management changes at CBS News under Bari Weiss.