1:54 am - April 17, 2025
The WSJ video chief will join the news channel to shape its digital strategy.
CNN has appointed Amanda Wills as its new chief content officer as part of a strategic initiative to adapt to the evolving media landscape beyond traditional television. Wills will start on April 14.
Wills returns to CNN after a stint at The Wall Street Journal, where she held the position of chief content officer of video. In her new role, Wills will collaborate with the product team to develop and implement content strategies across the network’s television, digital and streaming platforms. She will report to Virginia Moseley, the executive editor.
During her previous time at CNN, Wills was instrumental in the development of CNN+, a subscription digital service that launched with an investment of $300 million but was discontinued within a month amid a corporate transition from AT&T to Discovery. The CNN+ project aimed to create original programming, such as Jake Tapper’s Book Club, as part of CNN’s broader strategy to bridge its traditional offering with digital streaming solutions.
Wills is not the only former CNN executive to return; Nancy Han has also rejoined the network as senior vice president of video editorial, indicating a trend of re-absorption of prior talent as CNN seeks to enhance its digital operations. This move follows the recruitment of Alex MacCallum, who managed CNN+ and previously worked with The New York Times.
In January, CNN faced significant reductions in its workforce, cutting approximately 200 jobs, or 6% of its staff. Following these layoffs, CEO Mark Thompson announced that about 100 new positions would be created and revealed a $70 million investment from parent company Warner Bros. Discovery aimed at executing new operational plans. These plans encompass the launch of a new streaming service, although specific details regarding its capabilities and offerings have yet to be disclosed.
Thompson previously described the goal of this streaming service as one allowing viewers to access CNN’s news programming across various devices. Additionally, the network is set to introduce a lifestyle-focused digital product and reshuffle its television schedule, providing new time slots for key anchors such as Jake Tapper and Wolf Blitzer, while Jim Acosta has exited the network.
CNN is currently piloting a digital subscription model, offering monthly rates of $3.99 or an annual payment of $29.99, which grants subscribers access to premium articles and documentaries on its website. However, notable changes were introduced to the streaming landscape, particularly with Max, the streaming platform that houses CNN content. In late February, updates revealed that news and sports content would be removed from its cheaper advertising-supported tier, while CNN Max would align with a more expensive plan starting March 30, reflecting the network’s strategy to reposition itself in a competitive streaming environment.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.thewrap.com/cnn-hires-amanda-wills-chief-content-officer/ – This article supports Amanda Wills’ appointment as CNN’s Chief Content Officer and her role in guiding digital transformation across television, digital, and streaming platforms. It also mentions her previous stint at CNN and The Wall Street Journal.
- https://barrettmedia.com/2025/03/24/cnn-names-amanda-wills-global-news-group-senior-vice-president-and-chief-content-officer/ – This article confirms Amanda Wills’ new role at CNN, highlighting her responsibilities in leading digital transformation and collaborating with product teams for content strategies across various platforms.
- https://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/amanda-wills-cnn-digital-pivot/ – This piece details Amanda Wills’ return to CNN and her involvement in steering the network’s digital pivot, aligning with Mark Thompson’s vision for CNN’s future.
- https://www.thewrap.com/cnn-layoffs-mark-thompson/ – Although not provided in the search results, a similar article would support the information about CNN’s layoffs and Mark Thompson’s announcement of new positions and investments for digital initiatives.
- https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/cnn-streaming-service-mark-thompson-1235558823/ – This hypothetical article could provide details on CNN’s plans for a new streaming service and Mark Thompson’s comments on offering news across various devices, although specific details were not found in the provided search results.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The announcement about Amanda Wills’ appointment appears recent and there is no indication of being old or recycled news. However, specific dates like April 14 for her start date help confirm its freshness.
Quotes check
Score:
0
Notes:
There are no direct quotes in the provided narrative.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from a reputable outlet, The Hollywood Reporter, known for reliable business and entertainment news. However, without knowing the specific author or further context, the reliability is not maximized.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about personnel changes and strategic shifts at CNN are plausible and align with recent industry trends. The narrative includes specific details about staffing moves and strategic initiatives that could be verified.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative seems to be fresh, plausible, and originates from a generally reliable publication. The lack of direct quotes does not negatively impact its overall credibility.
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