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CNN US news chief Kaplan resigns
Reuters
New York: CNN's US news chief resigned on Wednesday amid a management reshuffling aimed at redefining the 24-hour news network as it faces increased competition and declining ratings. Richard Kaplan, head of US news gathering operations since 1997, resigned to pursue new opportunities after declining a spot in the new structure, said Tom Johnson, chairman and chief executive of CNN News group. Johnson said Steven Heyer, president and chief operating officer of Turner Broadcasting System Inc, will take on an expanded role overseeing more business and operating issues. The news comes at a time when the 20-year-old network, a division of Time Warner Inc, faces intense competition on the international and national fronts from large players such as NBC entities MSNBC and CNBC and Fox News Group, as well as competition from regional networks on the local front. CNN's ratings have also slipped in the absence of major news events, such as the Gulf War, the Monica Lewinsky scandal or the Columbine high schoolmassacre. CNN saw its lowest prime-time household delivery last quarter since the fourth quarter of 1987. "They have got competition, an audience that's not growing and they have not been able to establish a compelling reason to come to CNN," said Dow Smith, an associate professor at Syracuse University's School of Journalism. The network's business model has been built on a low-cost structure, with young employees and few high-profile reporters commandeering big salaries. Kaplan tried to change that under his leadership, said David Klatell at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism. "Under the Kaplan regime they have been trying to compete with things that cost more - more recognisable stars and appointment viewing which by definition means specialised programming which means it costs more,'' Klatell said.Copyright © 2000 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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