Did CNN Just Surrender to the Big Liars?

The network is struggling to reconcile standing up for truth and appearing neutral.

In one sense, it’s not surprising that CNN forced out Brian Stelter (first reported by Dylan Byers of Puck), the media reporter and host of Reliable Sources. David Zaslav, the new head of CNN’s parent company, was ordered to cut costs aggressively and Stelter’s show rated poorly. Canceling the show and firing Stelter will presumably save some money. Struggling shows get canceled all the time, and the hosts of those struggling shows are shown the door.

Dylan Byers @DylanByers

#Break: CNN’s @brianstelter is out at CNN. Full story at @PuckNews >>

puck.newsThe Brian Stelter Show Is OverBrian Stelter, the CNN host and inveterate newsletter O.G. and perceived Jeff Zucker mini-me, is the latest casualty of the Licht era. His undeniably successful tenure is a powerful metaphor for the media industry’s past, present, and future.

But there is another layer to this firing that should alarm everyone and is a textbook example of why the traditional media is ill-equipped to serve as a protector of democracy and a bulwark against authoritarianism.

The Real Reason Stelter was Fired

Cutting costs is not Zaslav’s only mandate. John Malone, a member of the Discovery Warner board and very close confidante of Zaslav, told CNBC last year:

I would like to see CNN evolve back to the kind of journalism that it started with, and actually have journalists, which would be unique and refreshing.

After Chris Licht, Zaslav’s handpicked successor to Jeff Zucker, took the helm at CNN, rumors started immediately that he wanted to tone down the anti-Trump partisanship. Stetler and anchor Jim Acosta were specifically mentioned as people whose jobs could be in trouble.