CNN boss Jeff Zucker thanked CNN Worldwide employees Friday for their “courage,” “patience” and “professionalism” during bomb scares that resulted in the evacuation of their New York office.
In an email, obtained by TheWrap, Zucker addressed the “extraordinary” events of the week, in which CNN was the target of two explosive devices sent by mail.
“This week we were in the unique position of both covering a story and also being a central part of it,” Zucker wrote to the staff. “That is a difficult place for a news organization to be. Our teams not only managed it, they excelled.”
On Friday, federal authorities arrested Cesar Sayoc Jr. in Florida in connection with a series of mail bombs sent to several prominent critics of President Trump, including CNN, former president Barack Obama and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, among others.
Even after Sayoc’s arrest, the network remains on high alert, Zucker went on to say in the email.
“Security remains our number one priority,” he wrote. “I have complete confidence in our experts that make up to the moment decisions about security in all of our locations, and I have been in constant contact with them. We are focused on every location, every minute of the day, seven days a week. And that will continue. Earlier today, we sent detailed information about where to call or email if you have any concerns – please use them.”
Read the full email below.
October 26, 2018
As we close out what has been an extraordinary week in many ways, I just want to repeat something I have said to you all a number of times already. I want to thank you for your courage, your patience, your professionalism and your relentless commitment to informing the public when they need us most.
This week we were in the unique position of both covering a story and also being a central part of it. That is a difficult place for a news organization to be. Our teams not only managed it, they excelled.
Literally, minutes after the news about the Time Warner Center broke on Wednesday, as our own employees were still evacuating the building, Poppy Harlow and Jim Sciutto’s reporting was carried live from the sidewalk, shot with a crew member’s cell phone. Our digital reporting teams immediately set up makeshift office space in a diner up the street. Control rooms and studios in Atlanta and DC were on alert and helped keep us on the air. A colleague offered Poppy a comfortable pair of shoes and warmer clothes. And our security teams remained in constant communication with federal and local authorities to make sure everyone was safe.
This is CNN. And I could not be more proud.
Security remains our number one priority. I have complete confidence in our experts that make up to the moment decisions about security in all of our locations, and I have been in constant contact with them. We are focused on every location, every minute of the day, seven days a week. And that will continue. Earlier today, we sent detailed information about where to call or email if you have any concerns – please use them.
It has been a long week. We are headed into midterm election coverage in the days ahead, and it will continue to be as busy as ever. I want to thank you in advance for what I know will be tireless work, against a backdrop that presents unprecedented challenge. Please do try to find some time to rest.
As I said earlier this week, words matter. Please take mine to heart, and know that I appreciate everything you do. Thank you.