Kara Swisher, a seasoned journalist, has announced her intention to cut ties with CNN if the network ends up being acquired by Paramount.
Swisher criticized Larry Ellison, the owner of Paramount, describing him as a “terrible person” and voicing her concerns about his recent acquisition. This deal, estimated at $111 billion, would merge CNN with Warner Bros.
During a panel at Syracuse University this week, Swisher was outspoken about the merger, which is being orchestrated by an ally of former President Trump. She cautioned the audience, saying, “You don’t want to work for the Ellisons.”
“I’ve spent a lot of time with Larry Ellison, and he’s a terrible person,” Swisher commented.
She mentioned that the deal is “not finished yet” and expressed her hope that it would eventually collapse. Ellison is reportedly aiming to finalize the acquisition by September.
This merger would place CNN and CBS News under the same corporate roof, raising concerns about journalistic neutrality and Ellison’s potential influence due to his connections with the Trump administration.
Swisher said Ellison and his son David, the CEO of Paramount, have been ‘very nice’ to her and are attempting to keep her as a CNN contributor, but she said she responded: ‘Too bad. It’s not going to work. It’s not gonna happen for you.’
‘I don’t think they’ll be good owners,’ she continued. ‘I don’t. I think they’ve already shown several times, including editorial choices.’
Veteran journalist Kara Swisher has vowed to sever her ties with CNN if it is bought by Paramount, a deal that is reportedly set to go ahead for $111 billion
Swisher lashed out at billionaire Larry Ellison and branded him a ‘terrible person’, and warned that he and his son David, the owner of Paramount Skydance, ‘won’t be good owners’
Swisher is a longtime tech journalist who joined CNN as an on-air contributor in 2023 and hosts Kara Swisher Wants to Live Forever.
She said her concerns about the Paramount deal come down to journalistic integrity.
‘They have no interest in journalism,’ she told the panel this week.
‘And I refuse to work for an organization that doesn’t respect journalists.’
She explained that while some have voiced opposition to the merger over fears that it could lead to layoffs at CNN, she said she understands that cuts can be part of any business.
‘Listen, I got laid off before,’ she continued. ‘I think a lot of these legacy organizations have been stubborn in terms of not seeing what’s going on. That’s not my issue. There has to be cuts.
‘The costs are out of whack with the audience, right? That’s just the way it is. That’s not how you do it.’
Swisher said she instead feels animosity toward Ellison because of his perceived ‘disdain for (journalism) as anything useful.’
‘It’s not a way to reform it except for someone who isn’t a journalist. I’m sorry, but there’s no place for me to do that.’
The Daily Mail has contacted Paramount for comment on Swisher’s remarks.
The Paramount – Warner Bros. Discovery deal would bring CNN and CBS News under the same ownership, prompting criticism about journalistic impartiality and scrutiny to Ellison’s close ties with the Trump administration
Paramount’s deal to purchase Warner Bros. Discovery moved forward in recent weeks after a proposed merger with Netflix fell through.
The prospect of Ellison and his son taking over CNN sparked redundancy fears at the news outlet, even as David Ellison has said he intends to allow CNN to keep its journalistic independence.
Netflix had been pursuing a deal for years, but in January the streamer said the deal was ‘no longer financially attractive’ and backed out.
This led David Ellison, the owner of Paramount Skydance and CEO of the company, to offer a $31-per-share deal that amounted to $111 billion.
Ellison and his father, Larry Ellison, are friendly with the Trump administration, which approved the pair’s acquisition of Paramount last year.
Trump advisors took a victory lap in January when Netflix retracted their bid for Warner’s studio and streaming outfit, one source told Status. Netflix only wanted to buy Warner’s streaming and movie studio.
Paramount is the parent company of CBS News, where staffers are also reportedly panicked – specifically over the prospect of CBS and CNN coming under the same roof.
‘F**k, f**k, f**k,’ one CBS producer told Status, resorting to curses when questioned about this increasingly likely future.
‘Well, f**k,’ another staffer similarly said. The move would mean cuts on both sides, another CBS source agreed.
The idea of coming under control of Ellison’s pick to lead CBS News, right-leaning Bari Weiss, also has staffers at CNN particularly scared, sources told Status.
