The Power Struggle For CNN Reveals The Extent to Which Flawed US Journalism Truly Is.

Late Thursday, while unconfirmed reports spread concerning the Brown University gunman, the network's Kaitlan Collins used social media, highlighting the uncertainty and guiding the public to her network’s 9pm newscast.

Even though it is by no means a flawless news source, her statement rang true for numerous observers. It stands as one of the outlets where one can locate reality-based and generally trustworthy reporting – particularly during fast-moving events like the one unfolding close to a New Hampshire storage facility.

A Vulnerable State During a Corporate Battle

Yet CNN, now middle-aged, finds itself in a vulnerable position as two giant media empires vie for ownership of its parent company, Warner Bros Discovery.

No matter the result, the destiny of CNN has been drawn into a high-stakes game of mergers and acquisitions, rather than as a question of what benefits the news-consuming public.

“This is yet another example of the fundamental flaws with roots in decades of governmental choices,” noted Victor Pickard, writer of “Democracy Without Journalism?” and a media policy professor at the University of Pennsylvania.

The speculation about which company will control Warner Bros Discovery – is it going to be Netflix or Paramount Skydance? – overlooks a more important point.

“It gets presented as a business story with key players as the main characters, but there is scant discussion of the societal benefit,” Pickard added.

A Further Layer: Donald Trump

The network's predicament is further muddied by Donald Trump’s views about a network he has frequently denounced as perhaps his chief “fake news” antagonist.

Recall the shouts of “CNN sucks!” at the president’s rallies, his team's disciplinary withdrawal of reporter Jim Acosta’s press credentials, or his clashes with Collins in press briefings.

Trump now asserts that the network requires new ownership. You can read that as ownership that will shield him from criticism and scrutiny. That is part of why he seems to come down on the side of Paramount Skydance, which has made a aggressive takeover attempt.

There is a basis to favor that suitor more. For one thing, it is led by David Ellison, son of the pro-Trump Larry Ellison, one of the world’s richest people.

The company, owner of CBS News, also recently appointed the right-leaning Bari Weiss, known for her “anti-woke” beliefs, as the top editor of that historic news network.

A Possibility of Continued Turmoil

It is important to note, if Netflix is successful, CNN and other cable outlets would first be separated into a independent unit. This might be a relief to many at the network, but it’s far from a guarantee of stability. That arrangement could pave the way for CNN for a future sale. It never ends.

In the view of Timothy Wu, much of this is illegal, anyway. The well-known analyst of big tech’s dominance wrote recently that competition laws should block both deals.

“Each proposed deal would be detrimental to the country, and both should be contested by the government,” Wu recently wrote.

The Fundamental Problem and a Path Forward

No matter the outcome in this situation, the larger issue endures.

“Our current system is a highly system hostile to democracy, but we must resist the belief that change is impossible,” Pickard said. Government actions – from the 1930s and 1940s – helped to foster this overly commercial monster, and revised policy decisions can tackle it.

Is this likely in an era where the Federal Communications Commission chair won’t even affirm that the agency is independent? Overhaul is a distant prospect now, but that doesn’t mean it will be impossible forever.

Initiatives that support independent news organizations, aid local journalism, fund public media, and prohibit the consolidation of media power in very few hands are achievable – they are essential for a healthy democracy.

Regarding media ownership, bigger isn’t better. And news organizations like CNN cannot be pawns in the latest corporate chess match.