CNN fires hundreds of employees

Hundreds of international news network CNN employees have been notified of layoffs as part of CEO Chris Licht’s efforts to transform the cable news network.

CNN bade farewell to hundreds of employees on Thursday.

The fairly new CEO of the network, Chris Licht, who took over in May, said in an all-staff memo that the layoffs were a ‘gut punch’ adding that it was hard to let go of the valuable staffers.

That would mean no more than about 400 staffers were let go.

Licht sent a memo to all staffers Thursday afternoon after the news was delivered to employees, which included long-time HLN anchor Robin Meade and reporter Chris Cillizza. Licht wrote in the memo he will hold a town hall next week to answer any questions.

Licht’s cuts are part of a broader effort at Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of CNN, to cut costs heading into 2023.