CNN has changed hands, with Skydance founder David Ellison taking over the network, according to AP News. The sale of CNN's parent company, Paramount, places the news channel under Ellison's control.
Ellison has pledged that CNN will keep its editorial independence, AP News reports. At a town hall, he told staff that the network's journalism would not be subject to interference, according to the New York Post. He also voiced support for CNN's lawsuit against President Donald Trump, CNN reported.
Mark Thompson will stay on as CNN's chief executive following the Paramount sale, The Guardian reported. He also shared a memo with staffers about the transition, according to Business Insider.
The leadership changes come as CNN's new owner moves to reassure employees about the network's direction. Ellison's public commitment to independence, and his backing of the Trump lawsuit, were among the first signals of how he intends to run the organization.
What to watch next: whether CNN's editorial operations or programming change under Skydance ownership, and how the network's lawsuit against Trump proceeds.
