Jeff Zucker just announced his resignation to a stunned CNN.

[demmiblue]

Link to tweet

[Celerity]

1. the affair was with a woman named Allison Gollust

All is on

Go LLust


smdh

[frogmarch]

2. from NY Times

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/02/business/media/jeff-zucker-cnn.html

snip:

Mr. Zucker was referring to Allison Gollust, CNN’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer and one of the highest-ranking leaders of the network, who is closely involved in major business and communications decisions.

[helpisontheway]

3. Was he the one that made the decision to fire Cuomo?

If so, I wonder if Cuomo had something to do with him finally admitting that he did not follow company rules either. Hmm…

[gldstwmn]

19. I still can't figure out what Chris Cuomo did wrong. He was barred from reporting on his brother.

[helpisontheway]

25. I think they said he used his connections to help his brother with legal issues.nt

[Nittersing]

24. litigation it seems

Potentially important: I’m told CNN received a litigation hold letter recently from Chris Cuomo lawyers, demanding, among other things, preservation of all communications between Zucker, comms chief Allison Gollust, and Andrew Cuomo.

Link to tweet

[helpisontheway]

26. Interesting..nt

[bigworld]

4. Well, bye

I can only hope this will help CNN get back to its roots in journalism. Who's gonna take the helm?

[tenderfoot]

5. The guy that turned "news" into the Jerry Springer Show?

No great loss.

Link to tweet

[Cha]

34. Rt TY

[lagomorph777]

6. I had to look him up - still don't recognize him.

Not an on-air personality I guess.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

7. He's an executive

He ran NBC before going to CNN. He's a piece of work...

[tenderfoot]

9. He's the guy that gave Trump free air time - they're buds but from his 'Apprentice' days

This is good for America.

[lagomorph777]

10. Thanks - good to hear he's gotten the boot then!

[Demovictory9]

23. Then eff him!!!

[Hortensis]

27. He turned tRump's mostly local public persona from a depraved buffoon

to that of a great, strongman national leader while he headed NBC. Then as head of CNN he gave tRump vast, unheard amounts of free air time to raise him above the other couple dozen Republican primary candidates and ultimately to get him elected. Both that and tRump's turning on CNN were good for ratings until tRump left office, and since then not so good, even though they've been hiring a stream of people from Fox.

I also find it extremely unlikely that the real reason for his departure is a sexual relationship.

[Cha]

35. Zucker is/was a suit behind

the scenes.. I remember his name.. not in a good way of how he's steered CNN.

ETA.. tweet from below..

Link to tweet

[tenderfoot]

8. Cheryl Jacobus couldn't be happier

Link to tweet

[W_HAMILTON]

14. Yep -- good riddance to him!

[dalton99a]

33. +1. The asshole basically made Trump president

[Fiendish Thingy]

11. Good- maybe the next boss will run CNN like a news organization, not a gossip show. Nt

[Demsrule86]

12. What a hypocrite...he sat in judgement while doing the same damn thing...don't let the door hit

you in the you know where on your way out.

[ForgedCrank]

13. Personally, I

think it's a dumb policy and a dumb reason to lose your job.
It's not like he was harassing women or something (at least I don't think he was, never heard otherwise), he just didn't report a consensual relationship.
Yes, he should have, it's their policy and all, but still. Doesn't seem like an proportionate response.
Maybe there were more serious reasons that we are unaware of, that's how these things go sometimes.

[Vinca]

15. I agree - especially when I see Jeffrey Toobin is still a commentator.

[tenderfoot]

16. Zucker was the guy that brought Toobin back

Hopefully, his replacement will give him the boot.

[Sympthsical]

18. There's a reason for disclosure

When coworkers date, especially when it is in a boss/subordinate relationship, it has to be made transparent and clear so that suspicions or accusations of favorable or discriminatory treatment can be steered around. By not reporting the relationship, decisions end up being questioned once knowledge of it comes out. All kinds of decisions. Some things you would never think you have to look into. Not just promotions like most people would think of, but expenses, accounts, pay, time off requests, opportunities given or highlighted via inside information etc.

It creates a huge HR headache when people don't disclose and then something happens.

If the boss doesn't follow the policy, people will think violating it is ok. It's very not ok in my company. People will get fired for it.

With CNN's recent firings, there's no way a boss could behave like this and expect to stay. I mean, forget the HR and professional complications. Just the look of the thing is sufficient.

[ForgedCrank]

28. I'm not questioning that part

of this really. I just think it's a step a little to far for people to actually lose their jobs over it.
Don't forget, this is policy, the female also didn't report this and she is fired as well. Well, at least if we are hearing the entire real story, that is. If so, then all this conversation is meaningless.

[Sympthsical]

31. I wonder if something else was going on

It's important to remember that she was formerly Andrew Cuomo's PR person.

Given this disclosure was prompted by Chris Cuomo's firing, I think there is an absolute pile of shit in the background we haven't heard about yet.

[ForgedCrank]

38. Excellent

point for sure. Things that wouldn't be made public for obvious reasons.

[Tanuki]

17. They weren't very discrete. Their "heated exchange at a swanky media party"

raised eyebrows years ago.


https://pagesix.com/2017/04/14/cnn-honchos-have-heated-exchange-at-swanky-media-party/?_ga=1.7014064.36492487.1484882946

..."It looked like she was reprimanding her husband or something,” laughed one baffled rival exec of the exchange."

[wellst0nev0ter]

20. Good

This was the man who rehabilitated Trump through "The Apprentice" then showed us the empty podium during the campaign.

I will never forgive that man for elevating that racist Trump.

[Carlitos Brigante]

21. If the comments I read here from fellow DUers are true. And I have no reason

to disbelieve them. Zucker took an already mediocre organization and turned it into straight up pile of shit. They could learn a thing or 2 from the BBC or Al-Jazeera. Sure they have their issues. But they seem to take the news seriously.

[uponit7771]

22. +1

[tavernier]

29. True. But Zucker doesn't own CNN.

He was allowed and possibly encouraged to promote Rump. So I have my doubts that things will get better.

[Carlitos Brigante]

30. Oh, no doubt. Agreed. Should've been clearer. nt

[dalton99a]

32. "Oops, I got caught"

[radius777]

36. Zucker sucks but I don't see why he should be fired

for a consensual relationship with a high ranking executive. Basically they were peers, and workplace affairs happen.

Zucker should've been fired a long time ago for using CNN to pump up Trump... let's not forget that CNN more than anyone elected Trump, not FOX as it already has the RW audience whereas CNN is viewed to be 'neutral' (and thus more influential over swing voters).

Since 2017 CNN's ratings have lagged, whereas MSNBC has stepped up their game and often comes in ahead of CNN, especially with the 4pm onward opinion shows.

[lagomorph777]

37. Your item #3 is the real reason they fired him.

Making him release the affair story is just revenge.