Overview
- Employees confronted Mark Thompson during an all-hands meeting about conservative contributor Scott Jennings’ on-air conduct and tone.
- Staff cited CNN editorial guidance discouraging the term “illegal aliens” and questioned why Jennings used it on air.
- Thompson told employees that contributors are not held to the same standards as CNN journalists and said heated on-air clashes can serve the audience.
- The concerns followed a Jan. 19 exchange in which Parkland survivor Cameron Kasky challenged Jennings for using the “illegal aliens” phrasing.
- Analyst Julie Roginsky publicly criticized Jennings’ behavior and warned she could be barred from CNN after speaking out, as staff also weighed uncertainty over a potential sale of parent company Warner Bros. Discovery.