CNN Looks to Slash Budgets, Star Salaries as Mark Thompson Digs In

As the cable network suffers ongoing dismal ratings, Thompson needs to cut costs — including $50 million in on-air talent

Compiled image featuring CNN stars Jake Tapper, Poppy Harlow and Anderson Cooper, along with new CNN boss Mark Thompson
CNN CEO Mark Thompson (foreground) with (l-r) anchors Jake Tapper, Poppy Harlow and Anderson Cooper (TheWrap/Chris Smith)

CNN boss Mark Thompson is looking to fund his digital-first transformation by cutting anchor salaries — currently more than $50 million — as he seeks to remake the ailing cable network into a U.S. version of the BBC, media observers and former CNN executives have told TheWrap.

Thompson, the former head of the BBC and The New York Times, has said he wants to unleash a “revolution” at the 43-year-old news network, and will not spare the network’s formidable talent roster.

Top CNN earners include prime-time anchor Anderson Cooper, who makes an estimated $20 million a year; Wolf Blitzer, who earns about $15 million; Jake Tapper, who pulls in more than $8.5

Comments

8 responses to “CNN Looks to Slash Budgets, Star Salaries as Mark Thompson Digs In”

  1. George Avatar
    George

    I got a novel idea! How about not being a liberal / leftist rag and doing what journalists are SUPPOSED to do – creating a fair and balanced story! Ya’ think that may improve CNN’s dismal ratings?

    Reply
  2. A.J. Avatar
    A.J.

    It’s too late, once you lose a costumer they stay gone. Plus it’ll be hard to get Gen-Z to watch since they get all their info on their phone.

    Reply
  3. respect for CNN back in the day Avatar
    respect for CNN back in the day

    The thing is that CNN’s salaries were always on the low end, certainly back in the day when CNN was based out of CNN Center in ATL. Georgia has been, and remains, an “at will” employment state, and those of us who worked for CNN were always faced with the “if you don’t like it, there is a big line of people who would be glad to work here” excuse when any kind of suggestion – not just a salary issue – was brought up. And the thing is…there WAS a big line of potential replacements coming in, but the replacements didn’t necessarily know their rumps from a hole in the ground w/r/t news presentation. (Ah, the stories I could tell!) But OK, that was a management decision. Many of us who loved our jobs took the low pay and told ourselves that we were bringing the news as it should be brought.

    At the same time, CNN *used* to pride itself on being an actual news source; its leadership was Burt Reinhardt, Tom Johnson, Eason Jordan, all of whom were committed to fair presentation of issues. I wasn’t a fan of Reinhardt, but there was never a coherent argument against his leadership because he was always dedicated to news.

    And then came the Jeff Zucker era, which – as both a viewer and a former employee – made me sad.

    Reply
    1. Ronald McLemmon Avatar
      Ronald McLemmon

      CNN “workers” should sue for the same minimum wage Starbucks and McDonalds teenagers are supposed to get in New York; $50/ hour.

      Reply
  4. Vendicar Decarian Avatar
    Vendicar Decarian

    17,000 dead children in Gaza.
    America willingly and eagerly supplied the bombs and the bullets, knowing full well what was being done.
    That is Complicity in mass murder and Genocide.
    Remember that, and act against them appropriately.

    Reply
  5. roadsterred Avatar
    roadsterred

    How about returning back to your roots of reporting the news without prejudice and bias ala Ted Turner?

    You may regain some of your credibility instead of being perceived as the Communist News Network.

    Reply
  6. imafin Avatar
    imafin

    what on air talent?

    Reply
  7. tom roberts Avatar
    tom roberts

    Missed the haters of the right acosta and tapper

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.