NEW YORK (AP) – CNN has canceled its weekly media show “Reliable Sources” after three decades on the air and said Thursday that its host, Brian Stelter, is leaving the network.
The program will have its last broadcast this Sunday.
“Reliable Sources” and its host appear to be the first high-profile casualties in CNN’s effort to become less politically confrontational, a priority of Chris Licht, who became the network’s chairman and CEO in the spring, and the his boss, David Zaslav, chief. from the parent company of Warner Bros. Discovery.
Stelter has written a book, “Hoax: Donald Trump, Fox News and the Dangerous Distortion of Truth,” and has been critical of Fox News, making him a frequent target of CNN’s conservative critics.
Licht has made it known internally that he is not interested in the conflict between CNN and Fox News on the network. CNN’s “New Day” anchor Brianna Keilar had also garnered attention for detailed critical pieces on Fox, but they’ve stopped since Licht took over.
CNN has seen its reputation plummet among Republican and conservative viewers, some of them because of relentless attacks on former President Donald Trump, but also because of the political views expressed by its personalities. The new management has been looking to lower the temperature.
Stelter came to CNN from The New York Times, where he was a media writer.
“He leaves CNN as an impeccable broadcaster,” said Amy Entelis, CNN’s executive vice president of talent and content development. “We’re proud of what Brian and his team have achieved over the years, and we’re sure their impact and influence will live on in the show.”
Stelter said he was grateful for his nine years at CNN, proud of the show and grateful to its viewers.
“It was a rare privilege to run a weekly program focused on the press at a time when it has never been more consequential,” he said. I’ll have more to say on Sunday.
“Reliable Sources” has been part of CNN’s Sunday lineup since 1993. Bernard Kalb was its original host, and Howard Kurtz had a 15-year run before Stelter took over in 2013. Kurtz now hosts the show.” Media Buzz” on Fox News. .
There was a quick burst of glee among some of Stelter’s critics online. Conservative site Daily Wire tweeted a picture of a room full of empty chairs, captioning it: “Brian Stelter fans gather to watch his final episode.”
“Nice delivery, Stelter,” Fox News and radio host Mark Levin tweeted. “You and your ilk have done serious damage to a free press.”
Dan Froomkin, a liberal media critic and head of the website Press Watch, tweeted that it was a terrible move by CNN.
Stelter “was the symbol of a media establishment willing to question itself,” Froomkin said. “He was a flawed but essential voice in the national media. His firing is a victory for all the wrong people.”
The “Reliable Sources” newsletter, a daily digest of the media’s big stories, will continue and be led by CNN senior reporter Oliver Darcy.