Two of CNN’s least ethical so-called journalists discuss the termination of another ‘journalist’ being fired over alleged ethics violations.
In other words, it’s as if the Babylon Bee got them to do a breaking ‘news’ hit.
WATCH:
Jim Acosta: We have breaking news to report to you right now about CNN anchor Chris Cuomo. Earlier this week, Cuomo was suspended from CNN after documents revealed he had been involved more than previously known and shaping his brother, former governor, Andrew Cuomo’s defense. Cuomo, Chris Cuomo, we should point out has now been terminated here at CNN. That’s the latest breaking news about what’s happening here at CNN. I want to get to CNN is Brian Stelter. Brian, obviously this, this is huge news. Not only inside CNN but for this industry. What can you tell us?
Brian Stelter: Yes, Chris Cuomo, one of the most popular anchors at CNN, one of the best-known names in television news, violated journalistic ethics and norms. Not once or twice, but many times. And that’s ultimately what is the result of today’s news. Jim, as you mentioned, Cuomo just terminated by CNN this afternoon. And here’s the statement from management explaining the decision, saying Chris Cuomo was suspended earlier this week, pending further evaluation of new information that came to light about his involvement with his brother’s defense, we retained a respected law firm to conduct the review, and have terminated him effective immediately. While in the process of that review, additional information has come to light. Despite the termination, we will investigate as appropriate. So this is a big surprise for a lot of people. Jim, I didn’t expect to be on with you this evening, talking about this breaking news. But we did know that Cuomo had been suspended not just, you know, for a week, not in the kind of way that’s a fake suspension to take pressure off CNN. This was a real suspension. He was put on the bench indefinitely while management conducted a review.
But we didn’t know until tonight, Jim is it an outside law firm also came in and that the law firm went through the 1000s of pages of text messages and sworn testimony that was released back on Monday. So there was clearly something in those documents that was found to be a serious breach of standards and practices. Of course, it was known months ago that Chris Cuomo was helping his brother talking to his brother, while this brother was trying to hold on to the governorship and defending himself amid sexual harassment allegations. What we learned this week in those text messages and in that sworn testimony was that he basically was acting like a staffer. He was like an unpaid staffer for the governor, and he was doing that at the same time he was working for CNN. Now there is one part of the statement, Jim, that we don’t know anything about. Now, just to be completely transparent with the audience. It says there’s additional information that also came to light sometime this week. We don’t know what that is. I’ve asked. There’s no answers coming on what that could be. What we do know is that Cuomo was terminated earlier today. We know in the past, I have reached out to Chris asked him for comments and have not heard back yet. We know in the past, he has said he always put family first. And he said he was sorry to put his CNN colleagues in a difficult situation. Now that difficult situation will not exist because Chris Cuomo has been terminated.
Jim Acosta: And Brian, do we know when this new information might be brought out to the public? And we’ll have a sense as to what this additional information was?
Brian Stelter: I don’t know, actually, if it ever will. I think that’s very much unclear. You know, certainly, in the years I’ve spent covering media, we know that companies try to keep these things as private as possible. But this is playing out in a very public stage because of Chris Cuomo, his prominence, and because of his relationship with his brother. I think this may be a situation, Jim, just drawing on my years as a media reporter. And this may be a situation where was death by 1000 cuts. Where there were just so many headaches, time and time again, involving Chris Cuomo, that even though many viewers loved watching Cuomo Primetime, looked forward to his show. He was causing so many headaches for the network and for CNN staffers, that ultimately this decision was reached. That’s just drawing on my background, you know, covering other stories like this. I do think, you know, this is a moment where journalistic ethics are at play. And I know there were many CNN staffers very unhappy with the situation, very frustrated by Chris Cuomo. At the same time, Jim, I was hearing from some fans of Chris, some viewers who said we understood he was looking out for his family. This was always a very complicated situation. But I think the text messages and the documents this week, showing that he was very deeply involved, very cozy with the governor’s office, very improperly working with the aides. That was ultimately why this decision was announced tonight.
Jim Acosta: All right. Brian Stelter, thanks so much for that late-breaking information. Just coming into CNN. In the last several minutes, Chris Cuomo, anchor here at CNN, has been terminated from CNN effective immediately. That announcement made by Jeff Zucker, the head of CNN, and we just learned this in the last several minutes. Brian Stelter, our chief media correspondent breaking it down for us, Brian, thanks so much for that. We appreciate it.
You can’t make this stuff up.
At least most people are already hip to their con, as evidenced by some of the comments we’ve seen online regarding this video…
“Don’t you have to be a journalist before you can break journalistic ethics? I thought he would have been safe as he wasn’t a Journalist, and he didn’t have any Ethics.”
“If CNN fired their people for violating journalistic “norms,” there wouldn’t be anyone left. Stelter will be next for some scandal.”
“This could be the best thing that ever happened to CNN. If they take this moment as a chance to learn and change their ways, maybe…just maybe, they can get back to being a real news network again. I don’t know if I’d bet any money on it, though.”
“Maybe CNN fans will finally start getting it. Don Lemon will be next.”
“Jim Acosta chomping at the bit.”
This piece was written by Zach Heilman on December 5, 2021. It originally appeared in RedVoiceMedia.com and is used by permission.
The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LifeZette.
Join the Discussion
COMMENTS POLICY: We have no tolerance for messages of violence, racism, vulgarity, obscenity or other such discourteous behavior. Thank you for contributing to a respectful and useful online dialogue.
CNN. the Contrived News Network, slinging what used to be called propaganda. There is NO journalism or journalists there, only talking empty heads with an agenda and self-abusers.
They just discovered that cuomo has been a f—- up for years? How dumb can an outfit be? Funny though; the cuomholes are batting 1000. All are unemployed because of lies and dem corruption.
Dumber and Dumbest!!!