Influential news outlet CNN is planning to cut around 100 jobs as part of its focus shift to digital media. The move was announced by chief executive Mark Thompson in a memo sent out to staff on Wednesday.
The media company is in the process of consolidating its news business and parting ways with 3% of its workforce, which represents a significant part of that. CNN will merge its digital news team with the news-gathering team while also making several other moves, such as increasing investment in video operations.
The company also plans to launch a digital subscription option for CNN’s website later this year. This is expected to be just one of several pay-per-view options that CNN will introduce in the near future.
Thompson, who took over as CNN Worldwide CEO last year, believes that the moves will help the company deal better with the diminishing TV viewing numbers.
“We are building a billion dollar+ digital business of the future,” Thompson said in a memo while adding that CNN will embrace Artificial Intelligence without giving further details.
In what is perceived to be a resulting move, CBS News President Ingrid Ciprian-Matthews resigned from her position after spending less than a year in the role.