CNN’s Jim Walton Resigns

FishbowlDC ^ | 7/27/2012 | Betsy Rothstein

[Beave Meister]

CNN President Jim Walton, who has been with the company for 30 years, has announced that he’s resigning. He will remain with the network until the end of the year.

“CNN needs new thinking,” Walton wrote in a note to staff this morning. “I have interests to explore, I need to give myself time to do [them].”

See various quotes and his note after the jump…

From CNN PR: Jim Walton told the CNN organization today that he will step down as president of CNN Worldwide at the end of this year. He will continue in his current role until that time. Jim’s decision has the support and respect of Turner Broadcasting CEO Phil Kent. Phil will lead the search for Jim’s successor. Employee note from Jim Walton is below as well as statements from Phil Kent and Jeff Bewkes.

Jim Walton note to staff:

After more than 30 years at this company and nearly 10 years as the leader of this great news organization, I have decided to leave my role at CNN on December 31, 2012.

[Beave Meister]

Good for us.....

[PBRSTREETGANG]

CNN needed new thinking long before now.

[scooby321]

The hire the same old song

[morphing libertarian]

I nominate Bernie Goldberg!

[CaptainK]

I’m predicting now that the new one will be an off the charts Lib.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

CNN hasn't done anything slightly interesting since one of their crews shot their way out of Tikrit, Iraq in 2003.

[Snickering Hound]

[Pollster1]

Makes sense. Either they will have accomplished their goal with Obama retaining power, in which case America is dead, or they need a new strategy to trick us into accepting their version of reality.

[Jedidah]

I’d want to do something else after 30 years, too.

CNN beats the heck out of any other network when there’s breaking news, especially internationally.

While we may prefer FOX for talk-blabber, give Walton and CNN credit for bringing us cable news, long before FOX News even began. Remember the first Gulf war?

[clintonh8r]

All those nauseating bouquets from his co-workers....

Hey, Jim: You're a failure. Admit it. Your company sucks at what it does and you took it there. Deal with reality.

[FatherofFive]

“CNN needs new thinking,” Walton wrote in a note to staff this morning.

Hire Rush as Chairman. It will be the #1 news channel in a week.

[FES0844]

I’ll second it!

[ozzymandus]

Deck chairs, Titanic, etc.

[Sloth]

“CNN needs new thinking,” There, I fixed it.

[lexington minuteman 1775]

“Cnn Needs new Thinking”- Captain Obvious quote de jour...

[Hunton Peck]

G’night, Jim-boy.

[RexBeach]

Other interests? Translation: “I just don’t know what to do anymore with this bloody network.”

[oh8eleven]

Hire Rush as Chairman.
But, but, how would he find time to sell his tea?
I listened to Rush for almost 20 years but quit a few years ago when his show became nothing but obama 24/7.
And quite frankly, that's all Rush does is talk. If the nation is really, really in such dire straits, why doesn't he DO something, like run for office, host Dan's bake sales, show up at a Tea Party meeting ... anything.
As much as I despise someone like Al Franken, at least he walked the walk.

[Disambiguator]

16 posts before a gratuitous “Waltons” reference? We’re slipping.

[philman_36]

CNN needs new thinking. That starts with a new leader who brings a different perspective, different experiences and a new plan, one who will build on our great foundation and will commit to seeing it through.

Well isn't that something.

It isn't often that someone in the business world openly denigrates themselves by admitting that they're incapable of adapting their thinking to changing times.

And yet...
I am proud of what we have accomplished together over these last 10 years – innovative programming, the development of great talent in front of and behind the cameras, expansion in digital and mobile, significant investment and expansion in international coverage, financial success and, most importantly, great and trusted journalism.

He's proud of his changes (new thinking) over the last 10 years, yet he says new leadership is needed.

Something is going on behind the scenes IMO.
Maybe the direction of travel isn't the direction he wants to go.

Is Time Warner fixing to "JC Penny" CNN?