There had been rumblings since late 2022 regarding changes and across the board layoffs at CNN en Español, amid overall cutbacks at CNN.
A much clearer picture of what will happen at the Spanish-language cable news network emerged this week. CNNE will cut back on linear programming to focus on a realignment to a “digital-first operation,” move its production to Mexico City and lay off employees.
In a May 25 memo sent to staff, CNNE SVP and GM Cynthia Hudson wrote:
“In the coming months, we will be streamlining our linear news output, shifting production to our Mexico City bureau and introducing new cross-platform programming. We will also be investing in CNNE’s digital platform, safeguarding CNNE’s newsgathering strength in the U.S. and utilizing our network-wide investments in content management to create a greatly enhanced digital user experience. This afternoon I informed the CNN en Español team about these changes, which will impact some of our colleagues.”
The realignment to focus on digital is a strategic shift based on changing audience viewing habits, a CNN company source familiar with plans tells Media Moves, who pointed out that “CNNE’s digital audience has grown by 20% since 2019” and the company wants to cater to those viewers.
“That said, linear is still very much part of our future. We will have a strong, focused linear operation spread across Mexico City, Buenos Aires, Bogota, Atlanta and Miami, and correspondents across the US – in LA, NY, Atlanta, Miami and DC, as well as correspondents and contributors worldwide,” said the company source, who added that while CNNE is investing in a new HD studio in Mexico City and have new flash studios in Atlanta, the network will keep a studio in Miami.
At least one insider estimated over 200 people will be laid off, the company source said the number is more in the dozens.* Another source said some staffers were laid off this week. Others will be phased out in two groups – one working until July 28 and the other until September 1st.
The company source said some US-based on-air talent will stay on board, but would not comment on who, and acknowledged “affected employees will remain with us for a few more months,” but also stated that “positions will be added in Mexico City, Buenos Aires and L.A., and will be posted in the coming weeks.”
Some high profile on-air program hosts, including Camilo Egaña and Xavier Serbia, were laid off and left CNNE in December 2022.
Below is the memo sent to staff about the changes.
* Updated to reflect the company source disputed the estimated number of layoffs.
OMG, future of spanish tv audience, a lot of saving money. Great stuff. No sense of studying journalism
La crisis en el periodismo en español arrecia. El cierre del periódico Al Día en Dallas, el despido masivo de gerentes generales en las estaciones afiliadas de Univisión, etc. Todo es para recortar costos, sin importar el impacto en la calidad de la información. Nunca como ahora, el periodismo ha estado tan desprestigiado. La extrema polarización de la sociedad ha convertido a los medios de comunicación en chivos expiatorios. El clamor del “fake news” del expresidente ha permeado en la conciencia colectiva de las audiencias que ya no se esperan a ver los noticieros de las 5 o de las 10 para ver lo que pasa en sus comunidades. ¿Para qué esperar si puedo buscar en facebook o en twitter las “noticias” que a mí me interesan?
Nunca como ahora los alumnos de las universidades de comunicación salen tan poco preparados para reportar las noticias. Claro, saben grabar y editar en sus cámaras con los ojos cerrados, pero no entienden los preceptos básicos del periodismo, así como la nobleza del oficio.
Lo que publica el colega de la planta alta es compartido por miles de jóvenes, no tiene ningún sentido estudiar periodismo. Menos con los sueldos que ofrecen ni las exigencias cada vez más elevadas de crear contenidos para todas las plataformas sin importar la calidad. Vemos errores garrafales en medios anteriormente prestigiosos, cometidos por internos a quienes se les asigna la responsabilidad de twittear o postear sin supervisión alguna.
Va a ser interesante lo que ocurra en el futuro en esta profesión, eso es indudable.