Former CNN boss discusses reasons for departure from liberal network: 'Opposition to change'

Chris Licht, the former CNN boss, revealed the reason for his 2023 dismissal from the network was due to opposition from employees to his plans for "change."

During an interview at the New York Press Club's Journalism Conference on Saturday, Licht stated that his goal when he was appointed to restore America's "trust" in CNN was a "mission." He added that his dismissal was simply a matter of "business." Despite being let go, Licht maintains a friendly relationship with the individual who fired him, Warner Brother Discovery CEO David Zaslav.

Smith questioned Licht about the reasons for his dismissal, referencing instances such as the CNN Trump town hall and the Atlantic article that portrayed him negatively, which caused controversy among employees.

""Building trust is crucial when trying to make significant changes. You must earn the organization's belief in you. However, I was unable to establish that trust during my time there," Licht stated."

"What was the reason behind it, was it due to time or something else?" Smith inquired.

"We must consider the time factor," Licht stated. "It's crucial to recall the state of affairs at that moment. That period was chaotic - I believe everyone would agree, especially within that organization. However, I am not absolving myself."

"To lead confidently, one must exhibit self-assurance and inspire others to follow, but it's crucial to distinguish between confidence and arrogance, which I continue to refine. Sometimes, I realize I may have crossed that line."

"I should not have done the Atlantic article," he said. "Arrogance is what comes to mind when you say yes after saying no several times, but at the end, say yes because you know it will look good in a year. This article will be positive because in a year, I did it. Looking back, I realize how arrogant I was. Before this, I hadn't failed at anything. I thought it would be a great story to write about all the great things that had happened. But now, I realize I should not have brought a reporter to the gym. If you want to avoid making the same mistake, don't bring a reporter to the gym."

Licht defended the Trump town hall, stating that he still believes it was the right thing to do. Although he regrets not informing viewers about the New Hampshire town hall's attendees being Trump supporters and center-right voters, he emphasized the importance of their positive reactions to then-candidate Donald Trump.

Licht stated that it was the first time Trump had answered tough questions in a long time, despite not being seen for a long time. Although his shtick resonated with voters in New Hampshire, Licht believes that people at home needed to be informed about this, which is something he would have done differently.

He continued, "So why was it? I believe it's due to the resistance of some individuals to change and my reactions to them, which led me to pick fights I shouldn't have. I should have built alliances, trusted more people, and trusted less others. However, every leader in an organization has self-reflections."

A spokesperson for CNN declined to comment.

In 2022, Zaslav selected Licht to revive CNN's viewership and restore its journalistic credibility, after Licht's predecessor, Jeff Zucker, built a reputation for the network being an anti-Trump news organization.

Licht's attempts to remove the spectacle from CNN's coverage were met with resistance from the network's rank-and-file, despite his dismissal of prominent liberal on-air figures such as Brian Stelter, Don Lemon, and Jeffrey Toobin.

In May 2023, Licht lost the trust of CNN staff after hosting a Trump town hall, which led to widespread anger within the newsroom. He was fired by Zaslav shortly thereafter.

As financial difficulties and low ratings persist, CNN reinstated Stelter as a media analyst and invited Toobin and Lemon to appear as guests. The network's anti-Trump coverage intensified leading up to Election Day.

Mark Thompson, CNN's current head, has been given the responsibility of stopping the network's declining audience and revenue. CNN employees are reportedly "frustrated" due to the impending budget cuts and layoffs that may affect the network in the near future.