Media executive John Malone told CNN anchor Pamela Brown that the network risks irrelevance unless it sheds a perceived “leftist, or left-of-center bias” and reasserts itself as a neutral observer in news coverage.
Malone, chairman emeritus at Warner Bros. Discovery and chairman of Liberty Media, made the comments during an interview broadcast Friday, arguing that CNN should emphasize straight reporting over personality-driven commentary and make live coverage easier to access worldwide. "If there’s going to be a debate on whose truth is right, you’re sort of a neutral observer of that debate," he said.
He said younger audiences have migrated toward blogs and partisan outlets because those platforms offer versions of facts that align with viewers’ beliefs, and he suggested CNN could win back viewers by returning to fact-based coverage. Malone also praised the network’s journalists, calling CNN home to "the largest group of real journalists on the planet," while arguing that the outlet has drifted from founder Ted Turner’s vision of straight reporting into more analysis and commentary.
CNN has been in third place in the cable-news ratings battle. Nielsen figures for August show an average primetime audience of about 444,000 for CNN, compared with roughly 2.30 million for Fox News and about 783,000 for MSNBC.
Malone has long pushed for editorial changes at CNN, advocating since at least 2021 that the network position itself as a centrist alternative to other cable outlets. The network’s tone and leadership have been a focus of Warner Bros. Discovery efforts to moderate CNN after the 2022 merger, which led to management changes and public discussion about editorial direction. Analysts and reporting at the time said Malone’s role as a top shareholder loomed over those moves.
In his recent memoir, "Born to Be Wired," Malone disclosed that he has high‑functioning autism — a revelation he said became apparent after seeing similar traits in his grandchildren — and reiterated his view that impartiality would strengthen CNN’s brand.
Warner Bros. Discovery and CNN have said newsroom independence remains intact. A CNN spokesperson pointed to a statement from the network noting that CEO and editor‑in‑chief Mark Thompson "has made it clear from day one that he believes in a CNN that is fair‑minded and biased in favor of the facts rather than any political party or interest." The statement added that in the nearly two years since Thompson took the role, he "has never experienced any attempt by anyone inside or connected to WBD to improperly influence CNN’s journalism in any way."
Malone also discussed the enduring value of real‑time reporting, saying there will always be demand for coverage of rapidly changing events and pointing to financial news as a durable example of that need. His comments come as media companies and audiences continue to grapple with questions about trust, partisanship and how news organizations balance reporting and analysis.
