CNN’s Brian Stelter will address the network’s widespread layoffs on his show “Reliable Sources” this coming Sunday, an insider familiar with the situation told TheWrap.
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It’s unknown whether he will host a full-scale segment where he’ll interview guests on the layoffs or do his own commentary on the ramifications of the cuts. It might be the former, as former network president Jon Klein is booked on the program.
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This was a tumultuous week for CNN across its various U.S. locations. On Tuesday, HLN’s Jane Velez-Mitchell’s self-titled show was canceled, with Velez and her show staff being cut. The network also disbanded its Los Angeles and New York entertainment unit and cut VP and Northeast Bureau Chief Darius Walker.
Wednesday saw the heaviest cuts as four shows were canceled: “Crossfire,” “Unguarded” with Rachel Nichols, “Sanjay Gupta MD,” and “CNN Money” with Christine Romans. On the same day, Turner CEO John Martin spoke at Time Warner’s investors meeting. On the cuts, he said, “that’s going to yield significant savings.”
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On Thursday, SVP and Digital Chief KC Estenson was laid off. Along with these high-profile cuts and cancelations, producers and news gathering personnel were also laid off in Atlanta, New York, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles.
The network has been in wall-to-wall Ebola coverage this week. Stelter’s show Sunday will be the first time the network tackles this round of layoffs.