Jim Acosta Leaving CNN: Veteran Journalist Departs Network Amid Programming Shake-Up
Jim Acosta Leaving CNN: A Major Shift in Cable News
Veteran journalist Jim Acosta leaving CNN after nearly 18 years, marking the end of an era for the network. Acosta, who gained national recognition for his confrontations with former President Donald Trump, announced his departure on air, delivering a farewell message that appeared to take a subtle parting shot at Trump.
(Mandel Ngan / AFP via Getty Images)
“You probably have read reports about me and this show, and after much thought and consideration weighing other offers, CNN offered me to move time slots. I’m going to move on,” Acosta stated during his last broadcast. “It is never a good time to bend the knee to a tyrant…Don’t ever surrender to lies. Don’t ever give in to fear. Grab on to the truth and hope!”
His departure comes during a time of much-changed programming at CNN, including moving Acosta from his 10 a.m. spot into a late-night segment. Rather than accept the move, Acosta opted to leave.
Trump Reacts to Jim Acosta Leaving CNN
Almost immediately after the announcement, his long-running battle with Trump revived. Trump reacted to Truth Social, expressing celebration over his departure from CNN, whom he described as “one of the worst and most dishonest reporters in journalistic history,” describing it as “Awesome, really great news!”
Never shying away from fighting back, Acosta delivered a stinging rebuke over at X (formerly Twitter), quipping, “Looks like somebody has ADS: Acosta Derangement Syndrome.”
CNN Restructuring and Its Aftermath
Acosta’s departure coincided with a larger restructuring plan of the network by its CEO, Mark Thompson, who recently let go of around 6% of the personnel and remolded the program schedule to match the reader’s demand.
According to Thompson, these changes are implemented as a reaction to “profound and irreversible shifts in the manner in which audiences in the U.S. and across the world receive news.” Those shifts included CNN on Tuesday announcing that Wolf Blitzer would take over the daytime time slot previously used by Acosta, who now is getting a late-night spot; the reasoning is that some rumors suggest the decision was planned to marginalize Acosta.
A CNN spokesman offered this farewell statement expressing appreciation for Acosta’s dedication to journalism:
“Jim has had a long and proud close to… 20-year career with CNN and has, of course, a good history of standing up to authority… He is more than a four-letter word for CNN: We thank him for the dedication and commitment he brought to his reporting and wish him well in the future.”
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A New Chapter: Jim Acosta goes Independent
Less than a few hours after quitting CNN, Acosta announced he would be launching his own independent journalism platform on Substack, under the name of “The Jim Acosta Show.” Joining a slew of mainstream media players like Don Lemon and Mehdi Hasan, Acosta is taking the digital independent route as a means to have that personal editorial freedom he is after.
“I am going independent, at least for now,” Acosta said in a video shared on X. “This is just the beginning, but I wanted to invite you to join me here on this platform as we talk about the day’s news.”
What Lies Ahead for Jim Acosta?
With Jim Acosta on the brink of leaving CNN, his all-new chapter promises to be relatively dynamic also. His new Substack platform gives him one more space to practice devastating journalism without corporate restraint.
On this new journey, one thing is certain: Acosta has no intention of going silent. “I will neither yield to the lies nor metaphorical fear; this is merely the beginning,” he did remind the audience.
References:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/jim-acosta-officially-signs-off-005806400.html
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2025/01/28/cnn-anchor-Jim-Acosta-leaves-network/6911738110225
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/28/business/video/jim-acosta-announcement-leaving-cnn-digvid
