A Source Run Dry

Chris Licht, who took over from Jeff Zucker at CNN after the creation of the Warner Brothers Discovery media company promised big changes for the cable news channel, and he is starting with, of all people, Brian Stelter.

CNN is canceling Stelter's program "Reliable Sources," which has been on the air since 1992 and which Stelter has hosted since 2013.  Stelter himself is leaving the channel.  Airing on Sundays at 11 AM Eastern, "Reliable Sources" has long been required viewing for anyone eyeing or pursuing a media career or just wanting to know what goes into reporting a story and presenting it in today's fragmented media.  Many of Stelter's observations of the news media have been tough but fair, and he has complimented them for their work as well as critiqued it.  But this self-analysis of his own profession apparently tended to look like navel-gazing to Stelter's new and soon-to-be former bosses, and so Licht has made "Reliable Sources" his first casualty following the termination of CNN+, with many more to come.  

Some folks are afraid that Licht's agenda could weaken CNN's news gathering, while others fear that he may be trying to please some of Warner Brothers Discovery's more Republican-friendly investors and make CNN stand for the Conservative News Network.  Whatever the reason for this decision, the loss of "Reliable Sources" is a major blow toward anyone who appreciates an incisive look at the media and understanding the "story behind the story."  It's as if the mainstream media don't want anyone to know how a story is framed and how biases seep in.  Because what John Mayer once said in one of his songs several years ago - when Big Media own the information, they can bend it all they want.  

I'm going to miss Stelter for his excellent media analysis.  I wouldn't worry too much about the fact that he won't be around anymore to call Fox News out on their misleading and untrue propaganda masquerading as news and commentary. if only because other CNN personalities and virtually everyone at MSNBC will be doing the same.  Still, this loss is comparable to Eric Sevareid's retirement from CBS and Soledad O'Brien's dismissal from CNN.   It leaves a big hole in its wake.   

Stelter's last broadcast on CNN is today.