Staff Reports
The mainstream media circus is experiencing layoffs that could rival a circus-level clown car exit, and the stars of the show, ABC and CNN, are all too eager to downsize their way out of trouble. Viewership for both networks, which have long served up a buffet of left-leaning narratives, has started to plummet like a political correctness balloon in a room full of sharp objects. The result? A budget ballet that has both networks slashing jobs faster than a pair of hedge clippers through a hedge.
Disney, the parent company of ABC, is demanding that the network’s flagship morning show, “Good Morning America,” finds $19 million in savings. This comes despite the fact that the show is one of their shining jewels. As the clowns at ABC scramble to meet this new savings request, it wouldn’t be surprising if they suggested cutting costs by serving cereal instead of the usual expensive guest visits. You can’t make this up, but insiders claim the high-salaried personalities like George Stephanopoulos will be unaffected. In contrast, behind-the-scenes workers are the ones who will face an industry death knell. Apparently, the folks who mow the lawn get the axe while the executive treehouses remain intact.
JUST IN: Struggling CNN, ABC Slash Jobs And Major Departments….https://t.co/EjD9Tm88Fw
— JOSH DUNLAP (@JDunlap1974) August 1, 2024
Meanwhile, CNN's self-proclaimed “most trusted name in the news” is closing down its entire opinion section, perhaps in a desperate attempt to retain some semblance of trustworthiness. With ratings sliding down a slippery slope, an opinion editor recently penned his farewell as if he were sending a postcard from vacation. The decision, shocking only to those who still believe in news that isn’t opinion-driven, hints at a deeper crisis; it’s as if CNN decided that editorial voices just weren’t popular enough compared to their shiny graphics and endless tickers.
As ratings have plummeted to historic lows—83,000 viewers among those coveted 25-54-year-olds for a prime time slot—CNN is scrambling, desperately trying to shift its focus to whatever will capture attention, including pop culture. In a wild twist, they plan to pare down their workforce, merging what they call “television newsgathering” with their digital news division. This strike at the heart of their operation might just lead them to discover that “digital” can do without talented reporters as they focus on celebrity gossip instead. The future of hard news at CNN is looking as gloomy as an overcast day in Seattle.
In the grand scheme of things, these cuts demonstrate that even the giants of liberal propaganda are not immune to the realities of the marketplace. With Americans increasingly tuning out their narratives, showing a preference for more grounded media options, it’s about time these dinosaur networks reconsider their operation. ABC and CNN might be hoping that a little financial pruning will change their fortunes, but the question remains: can these companies save themselves from a fate worse than layoffs—irrelevancy?
