Zahn Loses 8pm, At Least On Fridays

“CNN has been patient with Paula Zahn‘s show,” today’s Atlanta Journal-Constitution says. “Jon Klein, president of CNN/U.S., took his post in late 2004 and tried to boost the program’s popularity. Most notably, he brought in a new producer.”

But CNN’s patience is clearly waning. Zahn now has a less prominent presence on the network. (She was MIA during the recent presidential candidate debates, for example.)

Now the network seems to be pre-empting her 8pm show every Friday.

Last week, a repeat of the Sojourners candidate forum aired in Zahn’s place. And last night, a repeat of Anderson Cooper’s “Deadly Lessons: 24 Hours in Chicago” aired instead.

This appears to be a permanent change: the network is already promoting a rebroadcast of “Homicide in Hollenbeck,” another Cooper special, next Friday at 8pm…