Brian Stelter Returns to CNN After Two-Year Absence

Stelter's Announcement of His Return

Brian Stelter, the former CNN host, has announced his return to the network two years after his departure. In a message to readers of "Reliable Sources", Stelter revealed his excitement about his comeback. He stated that he is returning as the primary contributor to CNN's Reliable Sources newsletter, which he started in 2015.

New Role at CNN

Stelter is not just returning to his previous post; he has been appointed as the Chief Media Analyst. This new role will see him appearing on air, creating digital content, and managing the newsletter. His return to CNN is scheduled to commence on September 9. However, Stelter insists that his second stint at the network will be different, asserting, "because I am different."

Stelter's Previous Dismissal and CNN's New Direction

As reported by Fox News, Stelter was dismissed from CNN in 2022 by Chris Licht, his then-boss. Licht, who was tasked by Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN's parent company, to restore the network's journalistic credibility, was determined to reduce spectacle and left-wing partisanship.

New Appointments at CNN

Along with Stelter's rehiring, Mark Thompson, the new CEO, has made several other significant changes at the network. Jim Acosta has been promoted to a weekday anchor role, while Laura Coats and Abby Phillips have been moved into primetime. Thompson expressed his delight at welcoming Stelter back to CNN in his new role, praising him as one of the best global experts in media commentary.

Stelter's Controversial Past

Stelter, as the host of "Reliable Sources," had previously been involved in several controversies. He had promoted the Russiagate narrative, praised Andrew Cuomo's response to the coronavirus, and dismissed the Hunter Biden laptop story as a "manufactured scandal" created by the "right-wing media machine" in October 2020. He even suggested that Michael Avenatti, the disgraced anti-Trump lawyer, was a "serious" presidential contender for the 2020 election.

Stelter's Assurance of Change

Despite his controversial past, Stelter assures his audience that he is "different" this time around. He claims to have learned a lot about the attention economy and the information ecosystem during his time away from the network, which will influence his approach in his new role.

Bottom Line

Brian Stelter's return to CNN, coupled with his promise of change, has certainly sparked interest. His past controversies and the network's previous decision to let him go make his rehiring a topic of discussion. It remains to be seen whether Stelter's promise of being "different" this time will hold true and what impact it will have on the network and its audience. What are your thoughts on this development? Feel free to share this article with your friends and discuss it. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is available every day at 6pm.