Christiane Amanpour, a prominent CNN anchor, expressed concerns about the future of the network’s editorial independence following David Ellison’s impending takeover as part of Paramount’s $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). Speaking at the Truth Tellers investigative journalism conference in London on Tuesday, Amanpour highlighted the significance of preserving journalistic autonomy amidst the ownership change.

Amanpour, who hosts CNN’s global affairs program, conveyed apprehension about Ellison's influence, particularly given his ties to former President Donald Trump, a frequent critic of CNN’s reporting. “Clearly I am concerned... as a person, as a journalist with a record,” she stated, underscoring the essential need for editorial independence to be maintained under new ownership.

The anchor referenced the “ideological realignment” observed at CBS News following Ellison’s acquisition of Paramount’s parent company, CBS’s owner, through his production firm Skydance. In 2023, Skydance acquired CBS for roughly $8 billion, shortly after Trump settled a $16 million legal dispute with the network. Post-acquisition, Skydance committed to evaluating CBS News for political bias and halted several diversity initiatives, moves that have drawn criticism.

Amanpour noted that CBS News has experienced a significant decline in viewership and revenue since Ellison’s involvement. She also pointed to concerns around the potential undermining of the flagship investigative program “60 Minutes,” citing the departure of executive producer Bill Owens last year over disputes regarding editorial independence as well as anchor Anderson Cooper’s exit earlier this year.

In contrast, Ellison has publicly affirmed a commitment to maintaining editorial freedom. In a March interview with CNBC, he described CNN as “an incredible brand with an incredible team” and assured that “editorial independence will absolutely be maintained” at both CNN and CBS News. Ellison emphasized plans to invest in the news divisions, anticipating positive outcomes from the merger.

Paramount plans to implement substantial cost-cutting measures as part of its integration with WBD, a strategy expected to result in significant job reductions. The company has yet to clarify whether CNN and CBS News would be consolidated under a unified news brand.

The acquisition remains subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close by the third quarter of 2024. CNN and Paramount did not provide immediate comments in response to inquiries.