Business

‘This Company Needs Some New Thinking’: CNN President Quits

Posted on July 27, 2012 at 2:10pm by Becket Adams
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NEW YORK (The Blaze/AP) — CNN chief Jim Walton said Friday he is quitting, saying the company needs new leadership at a time its flagship U.S. network is suffering through some of its poorest ratings ever.

Walton built the company into a profitable international news organization in his 10 years as president of CNN Worldwide, and said it is on track for record profits this year. But the U.S. network is the most visible part of the business and is now entrenched in third place behind rivals Fox News Channel and MSNBC in prime time.

He announced the decision in an email to staff members on Friday. He said he‘ll continue working until the end of the year during the company’s search for a successor.

Walton said he’s been talking to his boss, Turner Broadcasting Chairman Phil Kent, about leaving since the first few months of the year. CNN is owned by Time Warner.

“There’s always pressure,” he said. “I’ve been doing this a long time and CNN has had its ups and downs, like all companies have had ups and downs. I feel really strongly about a number of parts of this company. We’re having a really strong year internationally and in mobile. It‘s clear there’s a lot of spotlight on CNN’s U.S. performance and it’s reasonable that there is that spotlight.”

CNN’s U.S. network had its worst-ever ratings for a second quarter, down 40 percent for some of its prime-time shows. The decline was particularly notable in May, when CNN faced tough competition from broadcast networks during a slow news period and its ratings were compared to a year earlier, in the aftermath of the Osama bin Laden killing.

It hasn’t improved appreciably since then, with veteran newsman Wolf Blitzer often losing in the ratings to broadcast novice Al Sharpton on MSNBC. Piers Morgan’s show has been a bright spot this month.

The network was also embarrassed by initially reporting incorrectly the U.S. Supreme Court‘s decision on President Obama’s health care law, then taking longer to correct itself than Fox, which made a similar error.

CNN’s ratings traditionally fluctuate based on the intensity of the news. Fox and MSNBC have insulated themselves from that problem somewhat through its partisan prime-time hosts. Walton has allegedly resisted this approach, believing CNN’s strength lies in being “a nonpartisan news source” and the company’s reputation would be damaged worldwide if the U.S. network changed.

“We kind of know who we are and our corporate colleagues know who we are and there has always been great support internally that we’re going to be a news organization,” he said.

At CNN, “we want to be accurate above all else, we want to be timely — first if possible — we want to actually go to where the news is, not just subscribe to some agency’s news feed and talk about it. We want to report the news from multiple sides, all sides, and without bias.”

Walton, 54, began working at CNN in 1981 shortly after it started. His first job involved ripping paper scripts off wire machines and operating the TelePrompter for news anchors.

Jeff Bewkes, Time Warner chairman and CEO, said Walton took over an underperforming company in 2003 and tripled earnings, delivering an annual growth of 15 percent. Roughly half of the company’s earnings come through subscription fees from cable and satellite companies, and they have been growing steadily worldwide.

“Jim has been instrumental in growing the business into the financial powerhouse it has become, while establishing the brand as the worldwide leader for television news,” Bewkes said. “I respect him personally and professionally and support the decision he and Phil Kent have reached.”

Kent said Walton has a track record of great judgment when it matters most. He “challenged the organization to think bigger, reach further, do better,” he said.

“I think this company needs some new thinking,” Walton said. “I‘ve been doing this job I’m in now for 10 years and I’m ready for a change.”

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Comments (106)

Micah.Stone
Posted on July 27, 2012 at 2:34pm
‘CNN needs new thinking’

…yeah, how about STOPPING acting like nothing but a bunch of d-cRAT stooges and puppets pushing nothing but socialist LIES, MISREPRESENTATIONS, SLIME AGAINST CONSERVATIVES, AND LEFTIST PROPAGANDA and instead actually tell THE TRUTH and THE FACTS ?
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- CatB
  Posted on July 27, 2012 at 2:40pm
  LOL .. that would be NEW!
  
  OMG 2012 LIBERTY!
  Report Post »
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on July 27, 2012 at 2:41pm
  Like in one of the other stories here today. Stop being the left‘s lapdog and start being the public’s watchdog as should be expected of you.
  Report Post »
- Too_Far_Gone
  Posted on July 27, 2012 at 3:13pm
  Oh this should get good ..
  
  Having as bad day barry ? hope so ..
  
  Wake up CNN the farce is over ..
  Report Post »
- Dale
  Posted on July 27, 2012 at 3:17pm
  Micah;
  
  Do you really think teddy turner is capable of telling the truth?
  Report Post »
- KevINtampa
  Posted on July 27, 2012 at 3:32pm
  This is what happens when you put KGB (oops I meant CIA) stooges on your network.
  
  Once in the CIA, always in the CIA.
  
  https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ie=UTF-8#hl=en&output=search&sclient=psy-ab&q=anderson%20cooper%20cia&oq=&gs_l=&pbx=1&fp=8f43c5bd048b596f&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&biw=1280&bih=662
  
  It’s his deliberate concealment that he was working with Langley that upsets me so much. Now when reporters are captured in hostile countries and rogue governments call them spies, well, thanks to this guy there’s evidence the U.S. does place spies in our media circles.
  
  Also, it’s curious how the US lambasted the USSR for having KGB operatives in Novasti and Pravda, and yet not even 20 years later we have been discovered to be doing the EXACT same thing with CNN and nobody cares. I’m becoming convinced that CNN has been a US intelligence program from the start. Think about it, it’s been at the forefront of propagandizing to the American people every war since Iraq part 1. No one cares though, so I guess it’s okay.
  
  This guy quitting isn’t because of ratings, it’s the CIA putting their new guy in to get us, the American people, ready to be on the same side as our corrupt government regarding coming:
  1. Middle East Escalations
  2. Asia Escalations
  3. National Elections
  Report Post »
- historyguy48
  Posted on July 27, 2012 at 3:52pm
  Comrade doesn’t CNN stand for the Communist News Network? With their tilt on stories it must!
  Report Post »
- drattastic
  Posted on July 27, 2012 at 3:56pm
  Wanna bet the new president will take CNN from left to hard left. Come on I need some easy money.
  Report Post »
- joe conservative
  Posted on July 27, 2012 at 4:06pm
  You know things are bad for CNN when they’re getting beat by MSNBC. I mean…really? I quit watching CNN about 4 years ago because their bias became so obvious. I think this has to be the biggest fall from grace in the media in my lifetime. We‘ll have to see what if they’re really changing anything but the President. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6GbaOl4x-4
  Report Post »
- smokeysmoke
  Posted on July 27, 2012 at 4:42pm
  HAHAHAHAH or the problem is TOO MUCH OLD THINKING
  Report Post »
- rickc34
  Posted on July 27, 2012 at 5:10pm
  Mostly Socialist News Broadcast Comrade (msnbc) beating out the communist News Network . Both are far leaning and Fox is riding the middle of the road. Fox is not a right leaning news organization they have their share of left leaners Chris Wallace for one.
  Report Post »
- PATTY HENRY
  Posted on July 27, 2012 at 5:44pm
  I wonder why they don’t get it: TRUTH SELLS. Anyone can tell when the other person is (or is not) telling the the truth. No one is more impactful than a truth-teller. Truth is poignant, powerful and ‘addictive’. The key to success? TELL THE TRUTH, DO WHAT YOU SAY YOU’RE GOING TO DO !
  Report Post »
- Secret Squirrel
  Posted on July 28, 2012 at 11:21am
  .
  ‘CNN needs new thinking’
  That’s code for, “We’re not left enough.”
  “Maybe we can get Michael Moore his own show.”
  Report Post »
- db321
  Posted on July 29, 2012 at 11:22am
  I’m shocked that ratings are so low. I would have thought that there is a huge market in America for those that can work, but refuse not to and the endless stream of Illegals flowing in from every border. Just wait, the numbers at CNN most definitely should go up once the Gay Marriage supporters start watching.
  
  I really thought the story CNN did that demonized one of America most decent Corporate Citizen Chick Fil A was going to have every Satan Worshiper in America shouting CNN, CNN, CNN and causing the ratings to go through the roof. A Total Shocker!
  Report Post »
Meyvn
Posted on July 27, 2012 at 2:32pm
New thinking? How about thinking period?
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- TurboCat
  Posted on July 28, 2012 at 3:26am
  Erin Burnett Out Front has become such a little snot lately. Nasty snarky little comments about people who do not deserve it. She‘s starting to become ’one of them.’ Hard to take.
  Report Post »
WillG
Posted on July 27, 2012 at 2:32pm
What is CNN.HaHaHa!
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Hoove
Posted on July 27, 2012 at 2:30pm
I hear he’s buying a Chick-fil-A Franchise. Apparently sales at those places are sky rocketing! I guess there is no such thing as bad press. Never let a a ******** story go to waste. Eat-mor-chikn!!!!
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- GoodStuff
  Posted on July 27, 2012 at 2:41pm
  Next Wednesday, Aug. 1, is National Buy Chick Fil A Day.
  
  Spread the word.
  Report Post »
RJJinGadsden
Posted on July 27, 2012 at 2:30pm
Mr Walton, you may consider actually running the real news and let the viewers decide for themselves. When CNN first got started, they made a big difference in reporting from the three letter networks. Then shortly afterwards they fell over the edge into the left wing abyss. Many in the public are tired of your propaganda heavily in favor of the dems.
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- jman-6
  Posted on July 27, 2012 at 2:38pm
  Exactly and they still swear that they r right down the middle!! Wake Up!! you morons at least hes realized that he sucks and is stepping down.
  Report Post »
- listeninginVT
  Posted on July 27, 2012 at 2:58pm
  CNN’s strength lies in being “a nonpartisan news source” and the company’s reputation would be damaged worldwide if the U.S. network changed.
  ———————
  CNN‘s ’non-partisan news source’… just bares repeating…
  lol
  Report Post »
- chips1
  Posted on July 27, 2012 at 3:28pm
  Sounds like another shovel ready job for one of Obama’s muslim terrorist friends. I wonder if this will change the unemployment stats!!!
  Report Post »
traitorbill
Posted on July 27, 2012 at 2:29pm
“New thinking.” How about a relentless pursuit of the truth, without consideration of a political agenda?
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- YourVoiceMatters
  Posted on July 27, 2012 at 3:34pm
  he nailed that one didn’t he? Like who believes this?
  Report Post »
Bobj_1960
Posted on July 27, 2012 at 2:29pm
If CNN does truly become unbiased in their reporting, the liberals will immediately brand them as a right wing tool of the GOP.
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iamgorilla
Posted on July 27, 2012 at 2:28pm
Maybe they should run a few more Black or Gay in America specials. And “non partisan news source”? Rubbish. At least MSNBC is honest about it.
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- spirited
  Posted on July 27, 2012 at 4:45pm
  Don’t forget “Latino in America”.
  
  >What happened to Soledad’s husband Mr. O’Brian…. Irish In America? -lol
  Report Post »
radargeek
Posted on July 27, 2012 at 2:28pm
let the door hit you in the azz when you leave loser!
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elosogrande
Posted on July 27, 2012 at 2:24pm
He thinks the problem may be that CNN is non-partisan. Huh?

He must one of the billions of people in the world that don’t watch CNN.

Maybe he should check out the list of fellow travelers that he’s hired, anchoring CNN programing.
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- AvengerK
  Posted on July 27, 2012 at 2:32pm
  Notice…the leaning of CNN is to be like the less successful MSNBC rather than the more successful FOX? The lefties just can’t help themselves. They keep doubling down on failure. And when we’re saying “less successful MSNBC”..Fox outrates both CNN and MSNBC… COMBINED even with reruns.
  Report Post »
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on July 27, 2012 at 2:45pm
  AVENGERK, there you go, hitting that nail squarely on the head again. You‘d think they would sit up and pay attention when Fox’s Red Eye runs at 3:00 AM Eastern Time and that one hour show beats out any of the prime time shows combined on CNN and BSNBC.
  Report Post »
THX-1138
Posted on July 27, 2012 at 2:23pm
Reading the Polls? Figured out that it’s over for you Marxists here?

Let’s hope so…
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xCalix
Posted on July 27, 2012 at 2:23pm
Sayonara you tool.
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AvengerK
Posted on July 27, 2012 at 2:23pm
Vaya con dios….
Here’s a clue..fire Piers Morgan and Anderson Cooper and try someone..oh I don’t know..CREDIBLE maybe?
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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on July 27, 2012 at 2:33pm
  AVENGERK, I almost can’t wait for our regular trolls to get on this story and start complaining how Fox is just so uber right wing. It is so obvious that they do not watch or listen.
  Report Post »
- MAX0O1
  Posted on July 27, 2012 at 3:07pm
  YOU do manage to hit the nail right on the head!
  Report Post »
- idarusskie
  Posted on July 28, 2012 at 10:59am
  I really do not mind Andersen Cooper. He normally does not wear his gayness on his sleeve. But all of their so called experts are democrat lap dogs. piers morgan never lets the people he interviews say what they want to say. soledad o’brien is always trying to voice her opinion when the interviewed person states something she does not agree with. Really when did the reporter’s opinion become the news? People get tired of a network trying to pound home an agenda.
  Report Post »
Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on July 27, 2012 at 2:22pm
Anyone wonder if he found out the company is about to tank financially and decided to jump ship while the getting is good?
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HKS
Posted on July 27, 2012 at 2:21pm
DA, just report the news, leave your opinion out.
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hauschild
Posted on July 27, 2012 at 2:21pm
This is something left wingers were once more quickly to implement – realizing their ways don’t work and accepting the obvious. It’s just a shame that 90% of these kooks won’t admit their mistakes like this dude did.

This is precisely why I feel Obama will be re-elected. Back in the late 1970′s, everybody realized Carter was a complete f-up after about 6 months, and many on his side acknowledged this fact and they were more concerned with “every” Americans well-being; not just their own, so the Reagan era was allowed to flourish.

Now, lefties have become even more bottom-feeding, and they’re more prone to double down. They have no pride in themselves whatsoever, and they’ll destroy anything in their path for “perceived” security. The average American has changed drastically since the 1970′s, for the worse (or maybe worst).
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I SPY
Posted on July 27, 2012 at 2:21pm
Maybe CNN should relocate to Moscow. The ratings MIGHT get a little better.
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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on July 27, 2012 at 2:40pm
  Remember what CNN admitted years ago about their news gathering office in Iraq between Desert Storm and Shock and Awe? They admitted to lying to the US public just to keep the office open. Well, if you are only telling lies, when keep the office open? They had egg and pigeon poop all over their collectives faces then.
  Report Post »
- I SPY
  Posted on July 27, 2012 at 3:15pm
  Sharpton‘s ratings are better than Blitzer’s!… ouch that’s gotta hurt. Sharpton is practically mentally disabled.
  Report Post »
TRONINTHEMORNING
Posted on July 27, 2012 at 2:20pm
CNN can’t suck enough; Brooke Baldwin is less than amature, Wolf is a ‘hasbeen’ and a ‘never was’ which leaves the sassy chick in the evening. Can’t remember her name. Kinda says it all to me.
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LeadNotFollow
Posted on July 27, 2012 at 2:19pm
…
CNN needs to pull their heads out of Obama’s butt, and report the real news.
Vet Obama. Report on the damage he’s done to America.
That’s the change CNN needs to implement.
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DimmuBorgir
Posted on July 27, 2012 at 2:19pm
Usually if a TV station is tanking you change the programs that station shows.

But hey, cya later
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Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on July 27, 2012 at 2:19pm
Maybe if they stepped out of the Obama box,and became an actual News Channel?
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DEMOCRATS.ARE.EVIL
Posted on July 27, 2012 at 2:19pm
To the left they go!!!
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- TurboCat
  Posted on July 28, 2012 at 3:27am
  Fareed Zakaria is one of the worst propagandists in there. Can’t stand to hear him for more than a minute.
  Report Post »
OhioRifleman
Posted on July 27, 2012 at 2:18pm
A happy illusion. There is nothing ‘unbiased’ about CNN, fullstop.
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Gonzo
Posted on July 27, 2012 at 2:16pm
Good luck CNN, you’ll need another Roger Ailes to pump that sinking ship out…though you would never hire one.
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Tri-ox
Posted on July 27, 2012 at 2:12pm
So, I wonder what obama has planned for his network now?
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- DEMOCRATS.ARE.EVIL
  Posted on July 27, 2012 at 2:30pm
  Keith Olbermann, perhaps?
  Report Post »

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