Former Washington Post editor Philip Rucker, who was hired at CNN in January, is now in charge of all D.C. editorial and management of newsgathering teams.
Rucker’s oversight of the bureau came at the expense of senior vice president Adam Levine, with his duties shrinking to CNN’s investigative team and a new “hub desk” in Washington, according to a report by Status founder Oliver Darcy.
In his Friday newsletter, Darcy, a former senior media reporter for CNN, reported that Levine appeared to have been “caught off guard by the sudden power shift” when the changes were announced by CNN Executive Editor Virginia Moseley at a Thursday staff meeting. Bureau chief David Chalian was also designated to oversee the operations side of editorial, polling and election analysis.
In an internal memo, which Darcy shared in full in his newsletter, Moseley described the shift as a “new structure for Washington as we continue to enhance and streamline the Global News operation.”
She added, “Washington’s editors will play an even more integral role in our reporting, helping to lead coverage, beats and story assignments.”
CNN has undergone several rounds of layoffs, including the loss of a reported 200 jobs, or about 6% of its staff, during the latest round in January, as the cable network shifts toward a digital model. At the same time, The Washington Post has seen an exodus of big-name reporters and columnists amid changes at the paper implemented by owner Jeff Bezos and CEO Will Lewis, Rucker among them. Those changes prompted two former editors at the paper to urge Bezos to replace Lewis earlier this week.
In January, the network also made several changes to its on-air lineup including giving longtime anchor Jake Tapper a new time slot and removing Jim Acosta from his morning show. Network veteran Wolf Blitzer is also being moved from broadcasting in the evening to the mornings.
CNN declined to comment on this story.
