Netflix recently decided not to pursue a hefty $83 billion bid for Warner Bros Discovery (WBD). This has many employees at CBS News and CNN on edge. They’re worried about what might happen if both networks become part of the same company.
With Paramount Skydance winning the bid, there’s a cloud of uncertainty. Staff fear this merger could lead to significant job losses. Concerns are rising, especially about potential ideological shifts at CNN, given Paramount’s leadership ties to Donald Trump. Some employees are anxious about it affecting programming decisions.
Bari Weiss, currently editor-in-chief at CBS News, is at the center of this concern. She’s a conservative commentator with limited experience in television, and her rise was influenced by deals that helped Paramount gain regulatory support. A worried CNN producer expressed fears that Weiss’s influence could fundamentally change the network. Historically, Ted Turner, who founded CNN, aimed to revolutionize news and foster journalistic integrity—values some employees feel are at risk.
Staff reactions have been strikingly blunt, with some expressing their frustrations through colorful language, while others are bracing for cuts in their departments. Mergers in media often lead to consolidations, which typically impact jobs.
Adding to the complexity, if the merger proceeds, Paramount would also gain control of HBO, known for acclaimed shows like Succession and Game of Thrones. This could shift the cultural landscape of television even further.
Experts are weighing in. Seth Stern from the Freedom of the Press Foundation warned that business interests might clash with journalistic ethics. “Censorship hurt businesses,” he said, emphasizing how crucial the First Amendment is to media companies.
Despite the noise, WBD’s CEO David Zaslav expressed optimism, claiming that the merger will benefit shareholders. He plans to address employees in a global town hall, encouraging them to stay focused on their work.
Meanwhile, Trump’s previous criticisms of CNN have raised eyebrows. He suggested any buyer should make changes to the network’s leadership. The potential changes have not escaped the attention of lawyers and policymakers either. Regulatory hurdles are expected before any merger can happen, meaning staff still face an unclear future.
Historical context shows that significant media mergers often lead to major shifts in how news is delivered. As changes loom, both employees and the public are left wondering what the future holds for these iconic news institutions. Concerns about media integrity and the influence of corporate interests are likely to be hot topics in ongoing discussions surrounding the merger.
For more insights on the impact of such mergers on journalism, see the Freedom of the Press Foundation’s latest report.
