CNN’s Brian Stelter slams critics amid Jeff Zucker scandal

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CNN’s senior media reporter Brian Stelter blasted the network’s critics – though he didn’t respond to criticism from colleagues over his failure to report on the romantic affair that led to the explosive ousting. from his former boss Jeff Zucker last week.

Critics have targeted Stelter for not disclosing Zucker’s relationship with another top executive, Allison Gollust. At least one CNN insider has called for Stelter to be fired for missing the relationship story – which has been described as an “open secret” among employees for years.

Stelter has yet to respond to criticism leveled at his reporting, but he devoted much of his “Reliable Sources” show on Sunday to defending the network’s journalism, saying CNN is “so much bigger than any individual” and more focused on news than opinion coverage.

Stelter has come under fire for his failure to report on the romantic affair that led to Jeff Zucker’s resignation.CNN

“People who say we lack journalism, that we’ve become a ‘talk it all’ channel, that we’ve run away and that we’re all opinions all the time, that Jeff Zucker misled us – those people don’t aren’t ‘I don’t watch CNN,” Stelter said. “They watch complaints about CNN on other channels who don’t know what they’re talking about.”

This is despite the fact that half of CNN’s 18 hours of live programming each day – including all of its primetime programming – consists of mostly opinion-based shows.

Brian Stelter says CNN is “not going anywhere” despite Jeff Zucker’s exitGetty Images for CNN

The bizarre rant came just days after Zucker abruptly resigned as president of CNN after admitting he had failed to properly disclose his relationship with Gollust. Shortly after the relationship became public knowledge, a CNN insider argued that the network “needs to step up and fire Brian Stelter” for missing the story.

“He’s allegedly our main media reporter – but he didn’t report on the scoop everyone in the office knew about,” the insider said, according to the Daily Mail. “And if he means he didn’t know, he really sucks at his job.”

An anonymous cable news veteran told the outlet that Stelter “should call his agent to start looking for another job.”

Stelter says CNN focuses more on news than opinion coverage.Getty Images for WarnerMedia

“He was Jeff Zucker’s water boy for years and no one believes he didn’t know all that,” the media veteran said.

Sources told the Post that Zucker’s relationship with Gollus is television’s “worst-kept secret.”

Current and former CNN members, including ex-anchor Soledad O’Brien, have described Zucker and Gollus’ relationship as an “open secret” dating back years.

Meanwhile, Stelter described Zucker’s Sunday exit as “CNN’s ugliest shakeup since the days of Ted Turner walking the halls.”

Stelter linked Zucker’s decision to quit to CNN and its parent WarnerMedia’s ongoing legal battle with fired former anchor Chris Cuomo, who was fired after helping his brother, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo , in his response to allegations of sexual misconduct during his tenure. . Cuomo resigned as governor last year amid mounting political pressure.

Stelter described the connections between Cuomo’s resignation as governor and Zucker’s exit to CNN as “almost Shakespearian.”

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