CNN is reportedly shaking up its schedule by transferring long-time information anchor and recognized Donald Trump critic Jim Acosta to “the graveyard shift.”
In accordance with a report in former CNN reporter Oliver Darcy’s Standing publication, CNN chief Mark Thompson allegedly known as Acosta on Wednesday night time (January 15) to ship a “unusual proposal” that caught the veteran broadcaster off guard.
“Thompson, I’m advised, delivered the veteran journalist a sudden and unusual proposal: Transfer your present to midnight and anchor it till 2am ET,” Darcy wrote, per Mediaite.com. Darcy claimed Acosta was bowled over by the request as “he had no motive to imagine that his present present could be on the chopping block.”
Darcy went on to say that Acosta was advised the line-up change “had nothing to do along with his scores or the editorial model of his present,” however somewhat it was a logistical transfer to accommodate a brand new morning schedule. He additionally claimed that Thompson “even pitched the graveyard shift as if it had been one thing of a promotion for Acosta.”
Criticizing the proposed transfer, Darcy stated that transferring Acosta to midnight and the wee small hours (he’s presently on air at 10am) would “successfully exile [him] to the Siberia of tv information,” noting that “just about zero different hosts within the cable information enterprise” occupy the midnight slot.
Darcy additionally spoke to an unnamed supply, who said that they imagine the transfer could be CNN’s effort to appease President-elect Trump, whom Acosta has often clashed with through the years.
“They wish to do away with Acosta to throw a bone to Trump,” the supply claimed. “Midnight is just not a critical provide when his scores are among the many greatest on the community.”
The information follows a report from earlier this week that claimed CNN is planning to maneuver veteran anchor Wolf Blitzer from his present 6 pm slot to a morning place. In accordance with Selection, a supply stated that Blitzer would crew up with Pamela Brown for a two-hour present within the 11 am slot, which might maintain the Scenario Room title.
Neither CNN nor Acosta have commented on the report.