Skydance CEO Promises No Interference With CNN Editorial Independence

David Ellison, CEO of Skydance, pledged on Friday (local time), the first day of the Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition, that he would never interfere with the editorial independence of CNN, the news channel now under his company's wing. At a town hall meeting with employees that day, Ellison said, "We believe in editorial independence, and we will never interfere with it."

He described CNN's journalism as "an important part of democracy," adding that he has "a deep trust in journalism."

However, when asked about plans to integrate operations with CBS, Ellison deflected, saying only, "Today is day one." CNN is currently led by Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Mark Thompson, while CBS News is headed by Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss.