Why Was Brian Stelter Fired From CNN?

Brian Stelter‘s recent return to CNN has greatly shocked and surprised multiple people. This is because Brian Stelter was previously fired by the news network following the cancelation of his show Reliable Sources. As such, fans are curious about why Stelter was fired in the first place and why he was rehired again. Stelter had hosted Reliable Sources for almost a decade between 2013 and 2022.

So why did CNN fire and then rehire Brian Stelter? Here is your answer on Brian Stelter’s firing and CNN return.

Why did CNN fire and rehire Brian Stelter?

An official reason for Brian Stelter’s CNN firing in 2022 is unknown as it was not given.

However, his firing in 2022 from CNN following the cancelation of Reliable Sources was likely due to his then-boss CEO Chris Licht’s attempts to shift CNN news coverage into a non-partisan approach and to “tamp down spectacle.” (via Fox News)

At the time of his firing, Brian Stelter had some strong words. He opined that platforms should not be given to those who would spread lies and misinformation.

“I know it’s not partisan to stand up for decency and democracy and dialogue. It’s not partisan to stand up to demagogues, It’s required. It’s patriotic. We must make sure we don’t give platforms to those who are lying to our faces. But we also must make sure we are representing the total spectrum of debate and representing what’s going on in the country and the world.” (via USA Today)

As for why Brian Stelter was rehired, it was because he was believed to be the optimal choice to lead the Reliable Sources newsletter into a new era. This was confirmed by BBC Chief Mark Thompson in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.

“I’m very happy to welcome Brian back to CNN in this new role, Brian is one of the best global experts in media commentary, and as the founder of the Reliable Sources newsletter, he is the perfect choice to lead Reliable Sources into its next chapter.” The statement read.

On X (formerly Twitter), Stelter created a thread where he explained how his new tenure as Chief Media Analyst for CNN and helmer of the Reliable Sources newsletter would pan out, promising a new version of himself. He said he now has a fresh perspective following his previous firing. He added that he now knew more about the “attention economy” and information ecosystem” after he got to experience news like an “everyday consumer”.

Abdul Azim Naushad

Abdul Naushad is a Contributing SEO Writer. He has previously written over a 100 articles for Sportskeeda. In his spare time, he likes to play video games, watch movies and aimlessly browse and watch different kinds of YouTube videos whether they be gaming reviews, movie explanations or even funny sketches and skits.