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Hundreds of Journalists, Academics, Filmmakers Sign Letter Opposing Paramount Takeover of CNN: ‘Threatening Press Freedom’
Breitbart ^ | 28 May 2026 | Paul Bois

Posted on 05/29/2026 1:26:06 AM PDT by dennisw

Over 200 journalists, academics, and filmmakers have signed a letter opposing the Paramount Skydance takeover of CNN following the former’s purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery.

Letter from the Freedom of the Press Foundation argued that Paramount taking control of CNN will lead to “improper political meddling” from CEO David Ellison, per HuffPo, citing the reported changes at CBS.

“News segments critical of Trump policies have been pulled; revered producers and reporters have quit rather than be censored; shows Trump dislikes, like ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,’ have been cancelled; and CBS Evening News has taken to airing flattering features on Trump officials, like one calling Secretary of State Marco Rubio the ‘ultimate Florida man,'” the letter said.

“With this track record, Ellison will likely alter CNN’s editorial direction (not to mention meddle with HBO’s documentaries) to be more friendly to the administration, threatening press freedom,” the letter added.

The letter further pressed regulators and lawmakers to regard the Paramount’s purchase of Warner Bros. as a “political arrangement to circumvent constitutional safeguards, with severe consequences for American democracy.”

Former CNN anchor Jim Acosta signed letter along with former ABC and CBS News correspondent Judy Muller, and Oscar-winning filmmaker Laura Poitras.

David Elison told CNBC in March that editorial independence will be maintained at CNN under his leadership.

“CNN an incredible brand with an incredible team, and we absolutely believe in the independence that needs to be maintained, obviously for those incredible journalists, and we want to support that going forward,” Ellison said.

“Who we want to talk to is the 70 percent of Americans, and really around the world, that identify as centre-left or centre-right. And we want to be in the truth business. We want to be in the trust business. And that’s not going to change,” he added.

(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: cnn; davidellison; discovery; ellison; fpf; jimacosta; paramount; paramountskydance; warnerbrothers

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1 posted on 05/29/2026 1:26:06 AM PDT by dennisw
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To: dennisw

Sing for your supper and shut up. Your are lucky to have a journalism job in this environment. AI can replace you. Or a common sense normie English major.


2 posted on 05/29/2026 1:29:56 AM PDT by dennisw (Qatarlson the Insufferable blowhard. There is no limit to human stupidity. |||||||||||||||||||||||||)
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To: dennisw
We want to be in the trust business.

Note that he didn't say "We are in the trust business."
HUGE difference.

3 posted on 05/29/2026 1:43:38 AM PDT by philman_36 (Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty and supped with infamy. Benjamin Franklin)
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To: dennisw
And we want to be in the truth business.

See? So they're not in the truth or trust business now, though they want to be in it in the future.

Poorly worded comments, otherwise.

4 posted on 05/29/2026 1:49:07 AM PDT by philman_36 (Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty and supped with infamy. Benjamin Franklin)
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To: dennisw

ROTFLMAO. Political meddling......as if that’s not exactly what Leftists did already.

CNN used to be a legit news source.


5 posted on 05/29/2026 1:52:38 AM PDT by FLT-bird
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To: dennisw

Translation: We can”t let truth get in the way of our agenda!


6 posted on 05/29/2026 1:53:18 AM PDT by Fungi
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To: dennisw
These journalists, academics, and filmmakers have been poisoning American minds with their Marxist, Woke, racist propaganda for long enough. Not to cut them any slack, but they were also thoroughly propagandized and cannot see the error of their ways. They are true believers.

Their era is coming to an end though, because a cultural, political, and economic system built on the lies of equality, sharing, the coddling of weakness, and the hatred of merit, honesty, and good, hard work cannot endure.

But they will not go gently into that good night. This summer will be violent.

7 posted on 05/29/2026 2:05:27 AM PDT by RoosterRedux
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To: RoosterRedux

“Not to cut them any slack, but they were also thoroughly propagandized and cannot see the error of their ways.”

IMO, it’s their parents’ fault. Decent parents would have provided a foundation that instilled/installed a BS meter in their kids’ heads. We’ve all been exposed to propaganda, but are able to recognize when we’re being bamboozled.

Example: Mega MAGA FReepers were with him 100% from the start. But when he proclaimed the wonderfulness of the vaccine we’re like, “Yeah. No. Not doin’ it.”


8 posted on 05/29/2026 2:48:03 AM PDT by MayflowerMadam ( "Trouble knocked at the door, but, hearing laughter, hurried away". - B. Franklin)
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To: dennisw

Who watches CNN anyway?


9 posted on 05/29/2026 3:02:42 AM PDT by spincaster (i)
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To: philman_36

Their “truth”


10 posted on 05/29/2026 3:04:08 AM PDT by Apparatchik (Русские свиньи, идите домой)
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To: dennisw
Press Freedom

Press Freedom to them = freedom to make up things that push their agenda.

11 posted on 05/29/2026 3:08:52 AM PDT by neverevergiveup
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To: dennisw

CNN is anything but news, it’s more of a DNC talking points network.


12 posted on 05/29/2026 3:31:56 AM PDT by maddog55 (The only thing systemic in America is the left's hatred of it! I want lower taxes.)
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To: dennisw

The first problem noted is the absence of the modifier “self-proclaimed” preceding the descriptor “revered.”


13 posted on 05/29/2026 3:56:50 AM PDT by HIDEK6 (God bless Donald Trump )
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To: dennisw

I do not want Paramount to take over CNN.

Why?

I want to see CNN tank and go out of existence.


14 posted on 05/29/2026 3:58:01 AM PDT by Candor7 ( Ask not for whom the Trump Trolls,He trolls for thee!<img src="" width=300</img><a href="">tag</a>))
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To: philman_36
We want to be in the trust business.

That’s like Hillary saying, “I’ve always tried not to lie.

15 posted on 05/29/2026 3:59:43 AM PDT by HIDEK6 (God bless Donald Trump )
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To: dennisw

Too stupid to understand that the CEO is trying to save their jobs by ensuring standards are kept.


16 posted on 05/29/2026 4:06:14 AM PDT by Jonty30 (He spent a week hunting a mammoth, just because I said I was hungry. He's such a good friend. )
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To: Fungi

What has sustained CNN economically? Zero ratings, overpaid talking heads….


17 posted on 05/29/2026 4:31:23 AM PDT by blitz128
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To: dennisw
Over 200 journalists, academics, and filmmakers have signed a letter opposing the Paramount Skydance takeover of CNN following the former’s purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery.

They can all phu cough.

18 posted on 05/29/2026 4:38:16 AM PDT by Rummyfan (Ok In anyq war between the civilized man and the savage, support lthe civilized man.👨 so t tv)
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To: dennisw
“CNN an incredible brand with an incredible team,....

Depends on one's definition of incredible.

19 posted on 05/29/2026 4:39:02 AM PDT by Rummyfan (Ok In anyq war between the civilized man and the savage, support lthe civilized man.👨 so t tv)
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To: dennisw

They mean immunity not freedom.

The press, as do all leftists, want immunity to do, say, lie, commit crime, etc. with impunity. That is what democracy looks like.


20 posted on 05/29/2026 5:00:20 AM PDT by FlipWilson
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