David Ellison Weighs CNN Editorial Board for $111 Billion WBD Deal
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Aug 17
David Ellison Weighs CNN Editorial Board for $111 Billion WBD Deal
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 17
Summary
David Ellison is considering an editorial board for CNN if Paramount completes its $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, aiming to reassure staff and critics about the network’s editorial independence.
CNN employees reacted unevenly: one staffer said an independence safeguard would be welcome, while others called the idea ineffective or even paralyzing and said confidence remains low.
That skepticism centers on the Ellison family’s ties to President Donald Trump and uncertainty over CNN’s future leadership, with Mark Thompson’s role still unclear if the merger closes.
The proposal comes as California-led antitrust litigation threatens the deal; trial is set for March, though Paramount is seeking a settlement before then.
The merger would combine Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery’s studios and news assets, intensifying fears of layoffs and a possible political shift in CNN’s coverage.