Is CNN’s Clarissa Ward Set to Quit Amid Bari Weiss Takeover Fears?

Staffers at CNN are reportedly growing concerned about the potential that Bari Weiss could assume editorial control of the network amid Paramount+’s merger with its parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery.

The report from Status comes after CNN’s chief international correspondent Clarissa Ward, who has been with the network since 2015, turned down a long-term agreement with CNN earlier this year. Status reported that CNN CEO Mark Thompson was hoping to secure Ward for a multiyear deal, but she instead signed a one-year extension amid fears of Weiss’ reign.

According to Status, Ward has watched Weiss’ power moves at CBS News closely (Weiss took over as editor-in-chief of the network last fall.) She has made several major staffing changes amid her tenure so far, ousting some of the biggest names at CBS News and sparring with other high-profile staffers who have now left the network.

Seeing all of this go down has reportedly made Ward “hesitant” about committing to a long-term future with CNN due to worries that Weiss could take over and implement similar changes. Other CNN journalists have expressed similar concerns, per Status founder Oliver Darcy.

Darcy explained, “Last month, Status reported that Paula Reid, who served as CNN’s chief legal affairs correspondent, had declined to renew her contract at CNN over concerns about the network’s future under Paramount ownership. Several other CNN staffers—ranging in seniority—have also expressed to Status in recent months strong reservations about potentially working for Weiss. Which is to say that Ward is not alone in her angst.”

It remains to be seen whether Weiss will gain editorial control over CNN in the same way she has at CBS News, so Ward now has the next year to see what happens before she makes a decision about her future. CNN did not comment on the situation.