CNN Washington, Showbiz Anchors Cut
Gene Randall, Jim Moret Among Casualties From Shakeup
Offered Other Jobs, But Declined
Downsizing To Continue Through Week, Began Last Week
Among CNN's casualties to be let go are a Washington news anchor Gene Randall ex-Showbiz Today host Jim Moret, as part of the shakeup announced last week.
Washington news anchor Gene Randall and former Showbiz Today host Jim Moret are among the casualties in staff cuts stemming from CNN's reorganization.
Randall and the Los Angeles-based Moret, who anchored the network's coverage of the O.J. Simpson criminal trial, were offered other jobs at CNN but declined, network spokeswoman Christa Robinson said Tuesday.
"As CNN Chairman Tom Johnson has said, the employee review process has been exhaustive and at times painful, but we are confident it will result in a stronger CNN better prepared for future growth," Robinson said.
The job cuts, which began Monday, were expected to continue through the week, company officials said. Last week, CNN announced plans to eliminate 400 jobs from its work force of 4,350, most of whom are based in Atlanta.
The reorganization, which follows the merger of CNN parent Time Warner with AOL, had been rumored for months. Extra security guards were on duty at CNN offices Monday and Tuesday not unusual in corporate layoffs.
Moret's entertainment-oriented show, which ran on weekdays in the afternoon, had recently been canceled.
Randall turned down an offer of a job in CNN's Atlanta headquarters, Robinson said. Another Washington news anchor, Sonia Ruseler, is also out of a job.
Carl Rochelle, a Washington-based reporter who covered aviation and transportation issues; national correspondent Dan Ronan; and Chris Black, a congressional correspondent who had covered the White House, also were out of jobs Tuesday.
Two staff members who left by choice amid the shakeup were Chuck Westbrook, executive managing editor of CNN.com, and Perri Peltz, a contributing anchor to NewsStand and co-anchor of the weekend TV show CNNdotcom.