The mainstream media is gearing up for an election for the history books. They’re shaking up the staff.
And now CNN made a sudden about-face that is turning everyone’s head.
Former CNN host Brian Stelter is making a return to the network after being unceremoniously ousted in 2022 — a decision that was swiftly reversed following the departure of the leadership that fired him.
“I am thrilled to share that I am returning as the lead author of CNN’s Reliable Sources newsletter, the digest I founded in 2015,” Stelter eagerly announced in what he framed as a “surprise” message to “Reliable Sources” readers on Tuesday.
“I’m returning to CNN in a brand new role as Chief Media Analyst, which means I’ll be appearing on air, developing digital content, and helming this newsletter.”
Stelter, who will officially resume his duties on Sept. 9, seemed keen to assure everyone that his return would not be a repeat of his previous stint at the network, stating, “because I am different.”
“The media industry has matured, CNN has evolved, and I have changed a lot since I signed off two years ago,” Stelter claimed.
After two decades as a self-professed “news junkie,” Stelter says he “tuned out” for a bit, moved to a horse farm near one of Donald Trump’s golf clubs, and gained a newfound perspective.
Now, he’s eager to share his so-called insights on the “attention economy” and the “information ecosystem.”
Interestingly, Stelter hinted that while the Reliable Sources newsletter is back, his TV program of the same name is not on the comeback trail.
Stelter’s departure in 2022 was orchestrated by then-CNN boss Chris Licht, who was determined to rein in the network’s penchant for spectacle and restore its journalistic credibility by cutting back on its blatant Left-wing partisanship — a legacy left behind by Licht’s predecessor, Jeff Zucker.
Under Zucker, CNN had turned into a relentless anti-Trump media outlet, and Stelter was more than willing to carry out Zucker’s mission as the host of the Sunday show Reliable Sources, where he focused on attacking Donald Trump and conservative media while giving his liberal media buddies a free pass.
For years, conservatives derisively referred to Stelter as the media’s “janitor” for his tendency to clean up after the liberal press.
His tenure at Reliable Sources was marked by his promotion of the now-debunked Russiagate narrative, his fawning praise of Andrew Cuomo’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, and his dismissal of the Hunter Biden laptop story as a “manufactured scandal” pushed by “right-wing media.”
He even went as far as to call disgraced anti-Trump lawyer Michael Avenatti a “serious” presidential contender.
Stelter’s return to CNN follows the downfall of Chris Licht, who was ousted less than a year after firing Stelter and who was plagued by internal conflicts and his failure to gain the trust of CNN’s staff.
After Licht’s departure in June 2023, Stelter began making guest appearances on CNN, fueling speculation that his official return was only a matter of time.
While Licht rejected Stelter, CNN’s current CEO, Mark Thompson, is quick to embrace him.
“I’m very happy to welcome Brian back to CNN in this new role,” Thompson said in a statement to Fox News Digital, praising Stelter as “one of the best global experts in media commentary” and the ideal choice to lead Reliable Sources into its next chapter.
Stelter’s return to CNN might be a victory lap for him, but it’s a stark reminder of the network’s continued struggle to distance itself from the partisan approach that led to its credibility issues in the first place.
Stay tuned to the Conservative Column.
