Paramount CEO Vows to Maintain CNN's Editorial Independence

Ellison says Paramount will invest in expanding CNN's streaming presence while preserving the network's journalistic integrity.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison pledged to maintain CNN's 'editorial independence' if his company's $111 billion deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery is approved. Ellison said Paramount's focus for CNN will be to invest in expanding its streaming availability, while assuring that the network's journalistic integrity will be preserved under the new ownership.

Why it matters

The acquisition of CNN by Paramount has raised concerns among the network's staff about potential political interference and a shift towards more conservative coverage, given Paramount's recent changes at CBS News. Ellison's comments aim to allay those fears and demonstrate a commitment to maintaining CNN's reputation for independent, fact-based journalism.

The details

Ellison said 'editorial independence will absolutely be maintained' at CNN, just as it has been at CBS News since Paramount's acquisition. He emphasized Paramount's desire to be 'in the truth business' and 'the trust business,' indicating a focus on objective reporting rather than political agendas. The exec also said Paramount plans to invest in expanding CNN's streaming presence to give consumers more options for accessing the network's content.

  • On March 5, 2026, Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison pledged to maintain CNN's editorial independence.

The players

David Ellison

The CEO of Paramount Skydance, the company that recently emerged victorious in a bidding war to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, which includes CNN.

Larry Ellison

The billionaire founder of Oracle and the father of David Ellison. Larry Ellison is a known supporter of former President Trump.

Bari Weiss

A former New York Times opinion journalist who was installed by Paramount at CBS News last year to bring more conservative voices to the network.

Shawna Thomas

A producer at CBS Mornings who is stepping down, following the exit of producer Alicia Hastey who accused the network of pressuring journalists to 'self-censor.'

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States, who has long been critical of CNN's coverage of him and called for any deal involving Warner Bros. to hand CNN over to new owners.

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What they’re saying

“Editorial independence will absolutely be maintained. It's maintained at CBS. It'll be maintained at CNN.”

— David Ellison, CEO, Paramount Skydance (CNBC)

“And, really, who we want to talk to is the 70% of Americans and really around the world that identify as center-left, as center-right. And we want to be in the truth business. We want to be in the trust business. And that's not going to change.”

— David Ellison, CEO, Paramount Skydance (CNBC)

“Larry Ellison is great and his son David is great. They're friends of mine. They're big supporters of mine, and they'll do the right thing.”

— Donald Trump (The New York Post)

What’s next

The Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery deal still needs regulatory approval before the acquisition of CNN can be finalized.

The takeaway

Paramount's pledge to maintain CNN's editorial independence and invest in its streaming capabilities suggests an effort to preserve the network's journalistic integrity and adapt to changing media consumption habits, despite concerns about potential political interference from the company's leadership and their ties to former President Trump.