CNNers 'Joyous' in Aftermath of Klein Firing

Late last week when CNN employees learned that Executive President of CNN Worldwide President John Klein had been fired and replaced by Ken Jautz, a sense of shock and then quickly relief fell over the company. Finally, many agreed. This should have happened long ago. Understandably, no one at CNN would talk about the current mood inside the network unless they could do so freely on the condition of anonymity. CNN PR did not return a request for comment on what the feeling in the company is post Klein. They did release the standard personnel announcement and posted it on CNN.com. "The feeling is joyous," a CNNer told FishbowlDC. "Most felt he had to go; that his decision making is flawed (re: Parker/Spitzer-Piers Morgan-Rick's List-American Morning)." A D.C. cable industry executive who does not work at CNN, but who is in a position to know what is happening behind the scenes, said the feeling is that CNN can no longer "sustain itself simply on news and its hodgepodge of different programs with no clear mission or agenda." The source said there are a "number of good people" at CNN, but that it just does not have a "sense or rhythm." The "joyous" CNNer added, "I know that people in DC really didn't like him -- especially at the sit room," referencing "The Situation Room. He cut back their time (giving it to Rick's List) and the sit room had better numbers at 4! Rick's numbers aren't that great -- he's just controversial. To sum it up, as one of my colleagues put it: 'Um, he should have been fire two years ago.' Others too, insist this is a relief. "We need to turn the page and anything is better than what we have now," was how one producer put it to a FBDC source. Another CNNer was initially, like many network colleagues, shocked at the news. But that didn't appear to last long. "Business seems to have gone on as usual," the CNN source said. "The only difference is that there is a bit of a bounce in the step -- and it's because this new guy is a known quantity. He's not really new. He's been at CNN for a long time and has done a great job when he went over to HLN, both in ratings and branding. The word "brilliant" has been thrown around. He gets CNN and he gets TV."

Fishbowl

CNNers 'Joyous' in Aftermath of Klein Firing

Betsy Rothstein

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Betsy Rothstein