One-Year Mark

A year after Mark Thompson took the helm at CNN, staffers remain mostly in the dark about his specific plans to lead the network into the digital promise lands.

Author

Oliver Darcy
October 09, 2024

CNN chief Mark Thompson. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Warner Bros. Discovery)

Mark Thompson on Wednesday celebrated his one-year anniversary as CNN's top boss.

It was a mute affair, void of any pomp. There were no glossy magazine profiles published or interviews granted to mark the occasion. Nor was the milestone used to make any major announcements. In fact, for the bulk of his employees, Thompson's anniversary came and went without any notice.

The approach taken by the network chief is largely emblematic of the style in which he has governed the global news enterprise over the last year. In direct contrast to his predecessor, Chris Licht, whose downfall was ultimately tied to his adoration of media attention, Thompson has led CNN in a quiet manner. That helped steady the ship, particularly in his early days. As UTA super-agent Jay Sures told me, “He brought stability to the organization. And that was absolutely critical.”

But while Thompson’s troops have relished in the absence of the rolling, never-ending soap opera that defined Licht's tenure, his hushed approach has also…

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