CNN president Jeff Zucker has stunned the media world by resigning from his position with immediate effect.
Jeff Zucker resigned on Wednesday after details of an affair with a colleague was made public. The colleague has been identified as Allison Gollust, CNN’s chief marketing officer.
Zucker said in a note sent to staff; “As part of the investigation into Chris Cuomo’s tenure at CNN, I was asked about a consensual relationship with my closest colleague, someone I have worked with for more than 20 years.
“I acknowledged the relationship evolved in recent years. I was required to disclose it when it began but I didn’t. I was wrong. As a result, I am resigning today.”
Jason Kilar, CEO of Warner Media, who own CNN, said in a statement; “I have accepted Jeff Zucker’s resignation as Chairman of WarnerMedia News and Sports, and President of CNN Worldwide. We thank Jeff for his contributions over the past 9 years.”
It is understood that Allison Gollust will remain in her post at CNN. She also released a statement, adding; “Jeff and I have been close friends and professional partners for over 20 years. Recently, our relationship changed during COVID. I regret that we didn’t disclose it at the right time.
“I’m incredibly proud of my time at CNN and look forward to continuing the great work we do everyday.”
Former CNN presenter, Soledad O’Brien commented on Twitter that the relationship between Zucker and Gollust was an open secret. She said; “Was basically an open secret, so the ‘stunned’ part is that he’s resigning, not the relationship”.
O’Brien went further, challenging CNN’s Media Correspondent Brian Stelter;
The news of Jeff Zucker’s resignation comes at a time that parent company Warner Media closes a merger with Discovery Networks, and as CNN prepares to launch its much-anticipated premium subscription streaming service, CNN+ in the spring.
Former President Donald Trump, who never saw eye-to-eye with how CNN covered his presidency, and regularly criticized Zucker didn’t hold back in his jubilation at the news. He said; “Jeff Zucker, a world-class sleazebag who has headed ratings and real-news-challenged CNN for far too long, has been terminated for numerous reasons, but predominantly because CNN has lost its way with viewers and everybody else.”
“Now is a chance to put Fake News in the backseat because there may not be anything more important than straightening out the horrendous LameStream Media in our Country, and in the case of CNN, throughout the World.”
CNN’s biography of Jeff Zucker states that he has had one of the most storied careers in media. He took over NBC’s Today show at the age of 26 and re-invented the historic morning news program. That led to a 25-year career at NBC Universal that ultimately saw him become the company’s CEO. He also served as NBC’s Entertainment President and co-founded the online streaming service Hulu.
Prior to CNN, Zucker spent more than two decades at NBC Universal, where he rose through the ranks to become the company’s president and CEO from 2007 to 2011. He headed up the global media and entertainment company, which included the NBC broadcast network, its news and sports divisions and all of its cable properties (including MSNBC, CNBC, USA, Bravo, Oxygen and Syfy), Universal Pictures and the Universal Theme Parks. Prior to running all of NBCU, Zucker oversaw all of the company’s television properties from 2004 to 2007 and was the president of NBC Entertainment from December 2000 until May 2004.
Zucker’s ascent at NBC began in 1986 as a researcher for NBC Sports’ coverage of the 1988 Summer Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea. From 1986 to 1988, he travelled the world, compiling and writing background information for NBC Sports. In January 1989, he joined NBC News as a field producer for Today. That was followed by an eight-year tenure as executive producer of Today. Under his leadership, the show became the most-watched morning news program in America. Concurrent with his role at Today, he served as executive producer of NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw in February and March 1993.
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