- By Ian Youngs
- Entertainment & arts reporter
Image supply, Getty Images
Mark Thompson obtained a knighthood within the King’s birthday honours in June
Ex-BBC and New York Times boss Sir Mark Thompson has been appointed to steer CNN following a sequence of crises and falling rankings on the US information community.
Sir Mark should additionally information CNN in the course of the 2024 US presidential election.
That problem will coincide with protection of prison fees towards Donald Trump.
The community has had a famously tempestuous relationship with the former US president, who unsuccessfully tried to sue CNN for defamation, claiming it had created a “false and incendiary association” between him and Adolf Hitler following the final election.
A CNN interview with Mr Trump in May was extensively criticised, together with by the community’s personal Christiane Amanpour. Mr Licht stepped down weeks later.
‘Pivotal time’
David Zaslav, chief executive of mother or father firm Warner Bros Discovery, described Sir Mark as “a formidable force for CNN and journalism at this pivotal time”.
He added: “Mark is a true innovator who has transformed for the digital age two of the world’s most respected news organizations.”
The British executive was director general of the BBC from 2004 to 2012, and is credited with reviving the fortunes of the New York Times by boosting digital subscriptions as president and CEO from 2012 to 2020.
“I can’t wait to roll up my sleeves and get down to work with my new colleagues to build a successful future for CNN,” Sir Mark mentioned.
His appointment comes days after Warner Bros Discovery introduced a brand new try at launching a CNN streaming service, CNN Max, which is able to mix current exhibits with online-only programming.