Paula Reid, a prominent journalist who previously served as CNN's chief legal affairs correspondent, has been appointed chief White House reporter for MS NOW. Her first day at the Versant-owned cable news channel is Thursday.
Reid's move comes after she departed CNN amid reported concerns about the network's future following its acquisition by Skydance. The Status newsletter first reported her departure over the summer, stating Reid declined a contract renewal offer due to uncertainties surrounding the Skydance acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery and the potential influence of CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss.
According to The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, Skydance CEO David Ellison has requested CNN chief Mark Thompson remain in his role for at least another year, and Weiss is not expected to have immediate editorial or operational oversight of CNN.
Reid joined CNN in 2021 after more than a decade at CBS News, where she covered the Justice Department and the White House. She was promoted to chief legal affairs correspondent at CNN in 2023.
MS NOW, formerly known as MSNBC, is expanding its Washington bureau independently following its separation from NBC News. Variety previously reported that Reid was expected to join MS NOW.
Both MS NOW and Reid declined to comment on the move.