CNN may be facing significant backlash regarding the potential reassignment of anchor Jim Acosta. Depending on whom you ask, this move could either provide Acosta with an opportunity to engage a wider audience during a new, unconventional time slot or signify his complete removal from the mainstream news dialogue.
CNN executives have proposed that Acosta transition to a role anchoring a show
According to sources familiar with the situation, CNN executives have proposed that Acosta transition to a role anchoring a show scheduled to air from midnight to 2 a.m. Eastern Time.
While this time slot may seem unconventional, it has been suggested that the show could deliver live breaking news to audiences on the West Coast and international viewers who are still awake and seeking information during those hours.
This offer was made earlier this week, and given Acosta’s prominent profile at CNN—especially following his coverage of the White House during Donald Trump’s first term—he may find himself with limited alternatives. Reports indicate that Wolf Blitzer is expected to take over two hours in the late morning alongside Pamela Brown, while Kasie Hunt is in talks to occupy an evening slot previously held by Blitzer.
For the past 11 months, Acosta has been anchoring the 10 a.m. hour after initially working weekend shifts. There were indications that he had been considering potential offers from competing networks around this time.
CNN has not publicly commented on any personnel changes, although the Status newsletter previously addressed Acosta’s possible new assignment.
As CNN struggles with a notable decline in viewership, executives are contemplating strategies to increase focus on digital content. This has led to rising anxiety among staff about the implications of these changes. Layoffs have been anticipated, along with adjustments to the schedule of CNN’s flagship cable network.
Additionally, there is speculation that CNN might relocate more production staff to its Atlanta facilities to reduce salary and real estate costs in New York and Washington, D.C.
Some staff members at CNN may perceive Acosta’s shift from mid-mornings to overnight hours as a demotion. Typically, CNN airs reruns of its prime-time shows during the early morning hours to reach viewers in California and beyond.
As part of the proposed changes, Acosta might also be required to relocate to Los Angeles for his new role.
The timing of this offer has already sparked some discontent within CNN.
Acosta frequently clashed with the Trump administration during his tenure as a White House correspondent, notably facing temporary exclusion from the White House press room in November 2019 due to his challenging questions. His eventual reinstatement became emblematic of America’s commitment to the First Amendment.
In an era where many corporations and media outlets appear eager to win favor with Trump, moving Jim Acosta to a previously unfilled overnight shift could be interpreted as a concession. Recently, CNN has made efforts to attract conservative viewers, dedicating more airtime to figures associated with George W. Bush.