New York Post
· collected 2026-10-06 · by Alexandra Steigrad, Taylor Herzlich
David Ellison, CEO of Skydance Media, addressed concerns about CNN’s editorial independence during a town hall meeting with Anderson Cooper in Los Angeles. Cooper questioned whether there would be changes to CNN’s coverage following the merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, citing criticisms over CBS News’ handling under Bari Weiss and the Ellisons' ties to Trump. Ellison assured the audience that CNN will maintain its editorial independence and emphasized the importance of unbiased journalism. He also acknowledged potential workforce changes during integration but did not specify any plans at the town hall.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-06,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
At a Los Angeles town hall meeting, David Ellison, CEO of Skydance Media and new co-CEO at Paramount, reassured CNN host Anderson Cooper about the network’s editorial independence following the recent merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery. During the event in front of CNN staff, Cooper expressed concerns over perceived criticisms regarding CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss’ handling of news coverage while under Paramount ownership and the Ellison family's ties to former President Donald Trump. Additionally, there were calls from figures like War Secretary Pete Hegseth for changes in CNN’s editorial direction post-merger. In response, Ellison emphasized his commitment to journalism that is truth-based, fact-driven, and bipartisan, stressing that such values are crucial today more than ever before.
Written for “CNN Independence Assurances” on 2026-10-06,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Skydance CEO David Ellison reassured a nervous Anderson Cooper that CNN will retain its editorial independence in the wake of the blockbuster Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger.
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CNN → reassure → merger
Cooper interviewed Ellison and his new co-CEO Ynon Kriez about life under the newborn media behemoth at a Los Angeles town hall in front of CNN staff.
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Cooper → interview → staff
“I want to start with a smaller part of this company, but it’s going to cause you headaches: news,” Cooper shakily said to laughter, according to leaked audio of the sit-down.
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Cooper → want → down
“Asking for a friend — or frenemies, I’m not sure.
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I → ask → friend
Cooper went on to lay out criticism from some observers, who have slammed CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss’ handling of the network — which was already owned by Paramount before the merger — along with the Ellison family’s Trump ties and War Secretary Pete Hegseth’s recent call for the exec to overhaul CNN.
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exec → go → CNN
“Are there changes you want to see in coverage at CNN, are there lessons you do or don’t want to apply from CBS News?” Cooper asked.
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Cooper → want → News
“I believe deeply in journalism,” Ellison replied.
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Ellison → believe → journalism
“In the world we live in today, having truth-based, fact-based, bi-partisan news that informs the public has never been more important.”
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that → live → public
The exec added that both CBS News and CNN’s work is “vital to democracy” and that he supports it — while planning “to scale and transition the business digitally.”
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he → add → business
Earlier Tuesday, Ellison and Kreiz reportedly gestured at layoffs in a memo to employees.
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Ellison → gesture → employees
“Integrating two companies will bring change, including difficult decisions that affect our workforce.
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that → integrate → workforce
We are committed to handling this process thoughtfully and respectfully,” they wrote, according to Variety, though they did not detail any such plans at the town hall.
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they → commit → hall
“As it relates to editorial, we believe in complete and total editorial independence,” Ellison said during the sitdown.
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Ellison → relate → sitdown
“You’re pledging to not interfere with news coverage of CNN?” Cooper interrupted.
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Cooper → pledge → CNN
He quit a side gig on “60 Minutes” earlier this year, purportedly to spend more time with family, though sources said he really left because he thought Weiss was biased.
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Weiss → quit → family
CNN — along with co-plaintiffs MS NOW and Politico — has regained partial access to the White House thanks to a temporary federal court order, though some restrictions are still in place.
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restrictions → regain → place
Cooper went on to tackle broader questions about the $81 billion merger that officially birthed Skydance on Tuesday.
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that → go → Tuesday
Kreiz, the former CEO of Mattel, touted the company’s vast entertainment porfolio and future growth prospects.
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Kreiz → tout → porfolio
“It is about engagement, it’s about fandom and we have everything it takes to be successful,” he said alongside Ellison.
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he → ’ → Ellison
The combined company will include two historic film studios and their Hollywood lots; major streaming services HBO Max and Paramount+; CNN and CBS News; live sports channels including CBS Sports and TNT Sports; and thousands of iconic movie titles.
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company → combine → titles
Paramount previously said it was aiming to cut $6 billion in costs over three years, partially from layoffs – which has left staff including CNN employees panicking over a potential “bloodbath.”
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which → say → bloodbath
In August, a report from Los Angeles County’s municipal government warned the merger could eradicate 4,500 film and TV jobs.
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merger → warn → jobs
Ellison ultimately appeased Bonta with pledges to spend an additional $1.5 billion on domestic production over the next five years and release 30 high-quality theatrical films each year.
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Ellison → appease → films
Skydance’s Class B shares started trading Tuesday on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “SKYD,” the company said in a press release.
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company → start → release
WBD shareholders have received an amount in cash equal to roughly $31.02 a share, as per the merger agreement.
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shareholders → receive → agreement
Its shares ceased trading on the Nasdaq on Tuesday.
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shares → cease → Tuesday
The Aporia
