Statement: Joy Reid's Departure leads MSNBC lineup changes, CNN announces plans for the Digital Market

Jonathan Bujosa - NBCU

Broadcast: MSNBC announced the cancellation of Joy Reid’s The ReidOut after five years, ending in February. MSNBC has been making changes to show and staff after the new president Rebecca Kulter took over the network. MSNBC will replace the show with The Weekend anchors Alicia Menendez, Michael Steele, and Sanders Townsend.

Telemundo Tampa hired Jonathan Bujosa for daily newscasts as a multimedia journalist debuting on Noticiero Telemundo 49. Prior to Telemundo, Bujosa worked as a multimedia journalist at KWEX Univision San Antonio and a news producer at NotiCentro WAPA TV in his native Puerto Rico. Early in his career, Bujosa worked for Telemundo Puerto Rico as a production assistant.

Ric Harris, the Broadcast Leader, was named Vice President and General Manager of WGN and will be responsible for planning and management of the station's television and digital efforts. Harris succeeds Paul Rennie who retired from this position last year. Before this role, Harris worked in the industry for 25 years and served in leadership roles at stations in Philadelphia and Hartford, Connecticut.

“Being a part of this family, the television station, being a part of the Nexstar family, it’s an honor and I am really, really happy to be here,” Harris said during a Thursday appearance on the WGN Evening News.

“We made a promise. We made a commitment when we were granted an FCC license that we would serve the community,” he said. “I really believe deeply and strongly in that, in serving the community, providing news and information that people need in order to make smart decisions for themselves, for their families, for their community. That is the core of what we do. It’s important. It matters. It’s relevant, and I take it very seriously. It is about people and culture.”

Capital City Sunday Darrielle Fair closed the final broadcast with a final goodbye recapping the history of the show and highlighting her time with WKOW. 

Rachel Sánchez returned to Indiana as an investigative journalist and anchor for FOX59. She is an Emmy and Edward R Murrow Award-winning journalist solidifying her as one of the most trusted investigative reporters in Indiana. Sánchez will be the lead investigative role at FOX59 reporting for the station's evening broadcast with a segment called Call Rafael where Hoosiers can get answers on their pressing concerns.

“We are thrilled to welcome Rafael back to Indiana television, and more importantly, back into the homes of Hoosiers who have trusted him for years,” said CJ Hoyt, FOX59’s news director. “His passion for investigative reporting and dedication to serving the community aligns perfectly with our mission at FOX59. Rafael’s impact is undeniable, and we know he will continue to be a powerful advocate for the people of Indiana.”

“Rafael’s reputation speaks for itself. He is a journalist who stands up for what is right and makes a real difference in people’s lives,” said Dominic Mancuso, the vice president and general manager of FOX59/CBS4. “His return to television is a win for our viewers and for all of Indiana. We are honored to have him as part of our team and excited for what’s ahead.”

Jaewong Jung, a three-time regional Emmy winner, joined KPRC 2 Houston as a new broadcast anchor for the NBC affiliate as a weekend anchor and senior reporter. Jung, served as the director of communications for the Asian Community Development Council, worked for KEZI 9 News in western Oregon. Jung’s hire follows the departure of sports reporter Chancellor Johnson.

Co-anchor of CNN’s The Morning Weekend Amara Walker announced her departure after a decade with the network. She also anchors CNN Newsroom mornings on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays at 8 a.m. ET.

In a statement, Walker said, “I’ve decided to seize on this moment of change in our industry and take a hiatus from TV news. I’m a journalist at heart, but I have other professional passions as well. The timing couldn’t be better to embark on the next chapter.”  

“In my 10 years with CNN, I’ve had the privilege of working on nearly all of its platforms, as an anchor for CNN, CNN International, and CNN Max, and also as a correspondent. Winning an Emmy Award recently was the icing on the cake. I felt this is the right time to take this step.”

A CNN spokesperson said, “In Amara’s more than 10-year distinguished and award-winning career at CNN, she has helmed numerous breaking news stories from the anchor desk and reported from the field on major events across the U.S.  She’s been a wonderful and deeply respected colleague at CNN. We know she will continue to find success in her new pursuits.”

Dawn Lopez, a co-anchor of Action News Jax This Morning and Action News Jax reported that she will be leaving Jacksonville TV, which is broadcast on WJAX-TV 47 and WFOX-TV 30.

“For more than 25 years, this anchor desk has been Dawn’s place to connect with you and tell your stories,” Amato said in a produced video. “I had the honor to sit next to her every morning, so I got a front-row seat to see what a gift she truly is. To watch her bring joy to those around her. To see her serve her community with so much passion ... So as we send off my good friend, Dawn Lopez, I think I speak for the whole city of Jacksonville when I say ‘Thank you, Dawn.’ “ 

WLOX announced Brand McGill was named co-anchor of Good Morning Mississippi

NBC News hired Nnamdi Egwuonwu as a breaking news reporter for the digital politics team working Wednesday through Sunday on the evening shift. Egwuonwu has worked and covered Tim Scoot, South Carolina, Georgia, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and other daily news for both CNBC and MSNBC.

Jennifer Hudson

Cable: In Paramount’s legal battle against Trump for his lawsuit against 60 Minutes, the CBS News owner’s legal strategy is to challenge the president’s insistence to keep the case in federal court in Texas about Trump's belief of heavily tampered interviews that put Harris in favor. As this case awaits trial, CBS believes Trump is shopping to find a judge that will be in favor of him.

Warner Bros. Television Group president of content sales and senior vice president of programming Lauren Blincoe announced the renewal of the Emmy-nominated talk show The Jennifer Hudson Show for Fox Television Stations for a fourth season.

Hudson said: “It is an unbelievable privilege to spend your days being able to engage with inspiring people from all walks of life; to hear their stories and connect on shared experiences; and to hopefully leave audiences a little more joyful than when they arrived. This show is a testament to what happens when you do what you love, and when you do it alongside an unstoppable team who creates magic in new ways every single day.”

Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien, a political affairs program produced by Hearst, will be ending in August. The end of its syndicate run comes with the ending of its tenth season.

“It’s been a privilege to serve as host and producer of Matter of Fact,” said O’Brien. “I look forward to continuing my relationship with HMPG and hosting and producing meaningful and impactful projects.”

“The Matter of Fact team, led by Executive Producer Rita Aleman, had a tremendous 10-season run and is going out on top. We have new projects in development with Soledad and are looking forward to what’s ahead in continuing our successful partnership,” Hearst President Frank Biancuzzo said.

Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong - Nikola Tamindzic

Streaming: The Los Angeles Times owner, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong reportedly is in the process of launching a right-wing digital news service that will feature Candace Owens and pro-Trump CNN pundit Scott Jennings. Soon-Shiong plans to make the LAT a more right-leaning newspaper after the election.

CNN announced a plan by CNN Chairman Mark Thompson as he looks to find ways to adapt the channel to the digital streaming world with an investment of $70 million in digital products. Thompson’s goal for CNN is to generate $1 billion in digital revenue, however, the company has faced setbacks in converting to the digital world from its failure in 2022 with its streaming service CNN+, a defamation lawsuit, and the departure of anchor Jim Acosta. Thompson plans to relaunch digital efforts with a lifestyle-oriented product and digital news streams.

“Right now, you think of their brand as in decline,” said Jeff McCall, a professor of communications at DePauw University. “The layoffs; that’s a problem. And it looks really bad when you lose libel suits.”

“If anybody deserves the benefit of the doubt, it’s Mark Thompson and his team,” said Jon Klein, a former CNN president who has been at the helm of several tech startups. “He dragged the BBC into the internet era and the New York Times into the digital subscription era really well.”

Alex Wanger - MSNBC

MSNBC Lineup overhaul: With the cancellation of The ReidOut, there have been changes in the MSNBC lineup and time slots for broadcast after the departure of Joy Reid from the company. Symone Sanders-Townsend, Michael Steele, and Alicia Mendez, who co-host The Weekend, will take over the 7 pm. Timeslot from Tuesday through Friday and a two-hour show on Mondays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The Weekend on Saturdays and Sundays will be hosted by a new set of anchors for its 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. editions, hosted by Jonathan Capehart, the MSNBC host, and Washington Post editor, who will co-host the morning edition with a new trio of hosts. The evening edition will be anchored by Ayman Mohyeldin.

Ali Velshi, who hosts Velshi on weekends, will be expanding its show by an hour from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Alex Wanger will not be returning to the 9 p.m. anchor timeslot from Tuesday through Friday, as she continues to be deployed on special assignments covering the impact of Trump’s policies as MSNBC’s senior political analyst.

The changeup in the lineup has caused the progressive news outlet to close operations in Miami, impacting Jose Diaz-Balart Reports and The Katie Phang Show. Diaz-Balart will continue to anchor Weekend Nightly News for NBC and Phang will remain as MSNBC legal correspondent.

Ana Cabrera, CNN Alumna, the host of Ana Cabrera Reports at 10 a.m., will expand the show by an hour to noon.