CNN’s new boss scrambles to ease fears after slashing bonuses: ‘Deck chairs on the Titanic’

CNN’s new boss sought to ease anxiety with a Friday memo that named top executives to revamp the struggling network — just days after it was revealed he had slashed bonuses companywide.

Mark Thompson — who took CNN’s helm in October following the disastrous, 13-month tenure of former CEO Chris Licht — cited the “changing economics of television” and the need to put CNN on “more sustainable economic footing” as he parceled out details on a turnaround he outlined in January.

While Thompson didn’t mention the bonus cuts — which were believed to affect top anchors like Anderson Cooper, Jake Tapper and Chris Wallace in addition to the rank and file — he appeared to admit he sensed anxiety over initial plans he outlined on Jan. 17.

Those included promoting Virginia Moseley, a hard-charging news executive who some staffers have called an “a–hole” and a “tyrant” — to lead the newsroom as executive editor. 

“Change is never easy, but I’ve been struck by how many of you have come up to me or emailed me since then to say that you’re up for the challenge but want to know HOW and WHEN the change is going to happen,” Thompson wrote.

Looking to shift CNN’s focus to digital as cord-cutting continues to hammer cable TV, Thompson outlined a five-part plan — “Building our digital future,” “A global integrated multimedia news operation,” “Future-proofing TV production,” “Developing new sources of revenue” and “Communication and culture.”