Contract talks designed to maintain CNN’s prime worldwide reporter on-staff for one more few years reportedly collapsed after disagreements between the 2 events.
Clarissa Ward, 46, handed on the ‘multiyear’ deal earlier this 12 months, Standing reported.
The award-winning journalist as an alternative signed a one-year contract that’s set to run out this April, sources informed the outlet.
Her hesitance to take the lengthier deal was reportedly stoked by executives’ refusal to afford her a podcast.
Ward was beneath the impression the platform might higher ‘showcase’ her ‘persona,’ sources stated.
The chief worldwide correspondent additionally had some ‘concepts’ that might have seen her take an elevated position within the firm’s digital technique ‘dismissed by these executives,’ in keeping with the report.
Ward was additionally stated to be ‘pissed off’ with execs presently overseeing CNN’s on-line editorial outfit.
Ward received an Emmy for a CNN digital report surrounding the 2012 disappearance of US journalist Austin Tice in Syria final 12 months.
CNN Chief Worldwide Correspondent Clarissa Ward, 46, handed on a plum deal that might have stored her on the community for a number of years this previous spring, in keeping with a brand new report
Ward has additionally received Peabody, DuPont and Edward R. Murrow awards for her reporting on Syria’s civil battle whereas at CBS Information, which she left for CNN in 2015.
‘CNN is, merely put, an important title in information,’ Ward stated in an announcement on the time. ‘No different group has the identical scope and depth and recognition the world over.’
The Tuesday report from Standing prompt the star has since turn into disillusioned.
Sources stated she ‘confronted friction’ from a few of the CNN executives overseeing her 2025 report on Tice, which ‘didn’t sit nicely together with her.’ The character of the purported pushback was not specified.
The freedoms a podcast would have supplied have been Ward’s resolution, in keeping with Standing.
After it turned clear executives weren’t ‘enthusiastically engaged’ by such pitches, Ward went in a special path.
The one-year deal was reached regardless of CNN being ‘desperate to renew her with a brand new multiyear settlement,’ in keeping with Standing, which is run by CNN’s former media reporter Oliver Darcy.
Sources informed the publication that Ward was additionally turned off by CBS Information Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss’s latest adjustments on the community. CNN’s mother or father firm, Warner Bros. Discovery, is presently being bought to Paramount, that means CNN might quickly come beneath Weiss’s management.
The community’s mother or father firm is presently within the strategy of being bought to rival media firm Paramount. The CNN middle is seen right here in Atlanta, Georgia
The award-winning journalist signed a one-year contract that is set to run out this April after disagreements with higher-ups in regards to the nature of her position and concern about probably coming beneath management of CBS Information’ mother or father firm, Paramount
Different CNN journalists have balked on the prospect of coming beneath the purview of Paramount’s Trump-friendly CEO, David Ellison, as nicely, in keeping with reviews from The New York Occasions and Selection launched in latest weeks.
CNN’s former chief authorized affairs correspondent, Paula Reid, declined to resume her contract final month over considerations in regards to the community’s future beneath Ellison and probably Weiss.
Anderson Cooper – a CNN anchor since 2001 – left his CBS gig at 60 Minutes after practically 20 years in Could.
Cooper, 59, has privately informed colleagues ‘he doesn’t wish to work for’ the Free Press Founder if the merger goes by means of, in keeping with a Occasions report launched late final month.
Early Begin’s Rahel Solomon additionally introduced she was leaving CNN in April, days after Ellison’s $111 billion bid for Warner was authorized.
Ellison, 43, employed 42-year-old Weiss with a network-wide overhaul in thoughts again in October.
Ellison has since maintained that CNN’s ‘editorial independence’ might be ‘maintained’ if and when the merger is authorized.
Different CNN journalists have balked on the prospect of coming beneath the purview of Paramount’s Trump-friendly CEO as nicely. Anderson Cooper, seen right here with Ward and former correspondent Sam Kiley throughout the US’s pullout from Afghanistan, left 60 Minutes this 12 months. He stays at CNN however has reportedly informed staffers he doesn’t wish to work for Paramount
Paramount’s looming takeover possible means cuts on either side.
CNN declined to touch upon the negotiations surrounding Ward’s contract.
Various former CNN journalists have began unbiased ventures over time, together with Jim Acosta, Don Lemon, and former Chief White Home Correspondent Jessica Yellin.
