CNN CEO Chris Licht finds himself dethroned, but was he ever truly in charge? The era of Licht appeared to promise balance and fairness, but with his predecessor, Jeff Zucker’s pervasive influence, CNN was unable to shake off its radical reputation.
During Licht’s short 13-month tenure, CNN did not manage to demonstrate a centrist shift towards representing both sides. Any hope for impartial journalism appeared to be overshadowed by the continued idolization of Zucker and his editorializing, which only served to muddy the waters of truth and facts in the eyes of a conservative audience. It’s hard not to agree with Stephen “Redsteeze” Miller’s tweet, saying that “Chris Licht didn’t drain the Zucker swamp.”
Curtis Houck, an accomplished conservative journalist, dissects the Licht saga by referring to several written pieces that emphasize the lack of balance instigated under Licht’s leadership. The first, a 15,000-word article by Tim Alberta for The Atlantic, which portrays Licht’s stint as CEO as disastrous. The second, a New York Times piece by Benjamin Mullin, highlights the way current CNN employees use Zucker as a “grievance switchboard.”
Despite Licht’s apparent ineffectual leadership, the blame cannot rest solely on his shoulders. The reluctance of CNN staff to adapt to a more balanced approach and the continued influence of Jeff Zucker hindered any prospect for a centrist transformation. Not only was Licht battling against the existing biases within CNN, but he also appeared to be ill-equipped to challenge the Zucker loyalists who sought to maintain their editorial control.
The ideological rut that CNN finds itself trapped in is truly damaging to any prospect of providing unbiased news. It’s not just Licht and Zucker who are trapped in this swamp of partisanship, but the entire network
