As cable networks battle for ratings and viewership, independent news seems to have been pushed to the margins. Recent events at CNN only serve to highlight this waning trend.
Chris Licht’s tenure as the president of CNN has been a showcase of the challenges facing independent news outlets. His departure marks another blow to the already shrinking world of non-partisan news on cable. Licht’s keen eye for impartial content and informative reporting had brought a rare breath of fresh air to the network, but this was short-lived.
As the network struggled to keep up with the competition, Licht’s departure seemed inevitable. The irony is that his vision of unbiased reporting was what CNN had founded itself on. In these times of rampant partisanship, unbiased news needs to be more prominent.
The firestorm surrounding the network’s decline has left many viewers wondering if there is room for independent news on the cable. The split in the cable news industry is now seemingly at its breaking point, with no signs of reconciliation.
The challenge now is how to support unbiased news outlets on cable. The public’s demand for impartial news is clear, but the market-driven world of cable news has other demands. News consumers must make a choice: continue supporting partisanship or actively seek out and support independent news outlets.
The future of independent news on cable is uncertain, but its role in sustaining a healthy democracy is clear. It is time for viewers to demand a space for non-partisan news on our screens and hold cable networks accountable.
The question remains – will independent news outlets have a voice on cable, or are we facing the end of an era?
