CNN Ignores Calls For Brian Stelter's Firing After He Failed To Cover Jeff Zucker & Allison Gollust's Affair Scandal
Feb. 17 2022, Published 7:24 p.m. ET
CNN is doubling down on its media correspondent who failed to break the two biggest stories at his own network, the forced resignations of bosses Jeff Zucker and Allison Gollust.
Despite calls from within CNN for him to be axed, Brian Stelter — the host of CNN’s Reliable Sources and chief media reporter — will host Reliable Sources Daily on the network’s new streaming platform, CNN+.
“From New York to Hollywood to Silicon Valley – Stelter will bring together all the headlines in the media on Reliable Sources Daily,” CNN said Thursday.
“He’ll take a critical look at the media, how the news is made, and why it matters to you and will expand on the news covered in his nightly newsletter, podcast and Sunday show.”
As RadarOnline.com has reported, there have been widespread calls for Stelter’s demise after he failed to report the "open secret" affair between CNN's top brass.
“The network needs to step up and fire Brian Stelter,” a CNN insider said. “He is allegedly our top media reporter - yet he failed to report on the scoop that everyone in the office knew.”
- ‘Arrogant’ CNN Anchor Brian Stelter Didn’t Ever Think He’d Be Fired, Called Himself Part Of The ‘Fabric Of CNN’
- Radar Told You First — Brian Stelter Leaving CNN After Low-Rated Show 'Reliable Sources' Is Canceled In Wake Of Boss Chris Licht's Anchor Shakeup
- Embattled CNN Anchor Brian Stelter Caught Red-Handed Sanitizing Coverage Of His Imminent Ouster
Another source said Stelter had “been Jeff Zucker's water boy for years and no one believes he didn't know about all of this.”
He was even bashed for “sitting on his moral high horse” and “ripping Fox and every other media outlet that Jeff tells him to.”
But the most egregious act of journalistic malpractice was when Stelter attacked RadarOnline.com hours after it sought comment on Zucker’s relationship with his colleague — more than a month before Zucker was spiked.
“I am personally thrilled because there are so many compelling stories to cover through a media lens,” Stelter said of his new role.
“Sometimes the best vehicle is Sunday’s flagship ‘Reliable Sources,’ a unique part of CNN’s weekend schedule for 30 years. Other times it’s an in-depth podcast or a special edition of this newsletter, two of the ways we have built upon the Reliable brand in recent years. Now Reliable Sources Daily is the ultimate expansion. I’m getting ready to bring you news about the media in this new way, while continuing to see you on Sunday’s show and throughout the week here in this letter.”