CNN’s Jeff Zucker told employees yesterday that it would be closing its offices to nonessential employees because of rising COVID cases at the network.
“If your job does not require you to be in the office in order to do it, please work from elsewhere,” Mr. Zucker said in the memo.
Mr. Zucker said the network would be making changes to studios and control rooms to “minimize the number of people in our spaces.”
The network, which had been using its full-scale studios for its shows, will go back to using “flash studios.” These are small studios that can be operated remotely by fewer people, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Mr. Zucker said employees in the office will be required to wear masks unless they are eating or drinking or in a room by themselves.
Everyone at CNN is required to be vaccinated and they fired three people previously for coming to work without being vaccinated.
So I have some thoughts on all this.
First, I have to admit my initial thought was: Exactly who are “essential employees” at CNN? We don’t need any of these folks to be there. Indeed, we’d all be better if they all stayed home and CNN closed up completely. Especially given the recent news regarding Chris Cuomo and CNN producers, exactly what purpose are these folks serving in these jobs?
Then, I would note this followed the announcement from CNN “New Day” anchor Brianna Keilar that she had “symptomatic COVID.”
I have symptomatic covid and am so thankful to have the protection of being double vaccinated and boosted. Please be careful about potential exposures and get tested before gathering with friends and family.
— Brianna Keilar (@brikeilarcnn) December 17, 2021
She announces that she has it despite being “double vaccinated and boosted” then encourages people to do the same. I’m not quite sure that’s the flex that she thinks it is. And if CNN is facing a rising surge in cases where everyone is required to be vaccinated, that’s not exactly a “pandemic of the unvaccinated” there.
Some also pointed out that CNN and Keilar’s announcements followed the “Ugly Christmas Sweater” party where many were seen unmasked in pictures and asked if Keilar had been in attendance. Here’s Jake Tapper posting some of the pictures and saying that they only took off the masks for the pictures (because the virus takes a holiday when you’re taking pictures).
Some great entries for the annual CNN Christmas sweater contest! (Everyone is vaccinated and we took masks off for the photos) pic.twitter.com/CcO0SsPc5R
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) December 15, 2021
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) December 15, 2021
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) December 15, 2021
Except you can see the folks in the background who aren’t masked.
Now, we know had this been Fox, that CNN would be all over this screaming, “Science, science, science! Where are people’s masks! Those evil Fox people!” I’d also point out how CNN took shots at the Southwest CEO for testifying unmasked and then coming down with COVID.
Now, one could hope that CNN would learn something and stop being such a propaganda-driven network. But since it’s CNN, that would be a vain hope, because they wouldn’t.
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