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Chris Licht

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Chris Licht
Licht in 2015
Born
Christopher Andrew Licht

(1971-10-22) October 22, 1971 (age 53)
Switzerland
NationalityAmerican
EducationSyracuse University (BA)
Years active1993–present
Notable work
Spouse
Jenny Blanco
​
(m. 2006)​
[1]
Children2

Christopher Andrew Licht (born October 22, 1971)[2] is an American television newsman and producer. He is best known as the showrunner and executive producer of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, as well as CBS's executive vice president of special programming. He is also known for having launched Morning Joe on MSNBC, and the reboot of CBS This Morning. From May 2022 to June 2023 he was the chairman and CEO of CNN.

Early life and education

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Licht was born in Switzerland,[2] to Susan Mary (Kneeland) and Dr. Peter David Licht of Newtown, Connecticut.[1][3][4] He graduated from Syracuse University's S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications in 1993 with a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism and political science.[5][6][7] In 2014, one of the TV news control rooms at the Newhouse Studio and Innovation Center was named in his honor.[8]

Career

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Licht began his career at KNBC in Los Angeles around the time of the O. J. Simpson trial. He also worked with local NBC affiliates in LA and San Francisco markets.[9][10]

In 2005, he joined MSNBC as the executive producer for Scarborough Country and later was the founding executive producer of Morning Joe, which he and host Joe Scarborough helped create prior to its launch in 2007.[11]

He joined CBS in 2011 and was named vice president of programming at CBS News.[12][13] Licht was the executive producer of CBS This Morning starting when the show launched in 2012, and later joined The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in 2016. While in charge of CBS This Morning, he was credited with making the show unexpectedly successful, giving CBS its most competitive place in the morning show race in almost 30 years. This success occurred partly because Licht allowed the show's hosts Gayle King, Charlie Rose, and Norah O'Donnell, to talk freely about news events and about themselves.[14][15][16] A month after he was named executive producer and showrunner of The Late Show, the show saw its largest weekly audience since February 19 of that year.[17] As executive producer, he focused on management issues that host Stephen Colbert had previously handled, as well as shortening the opening credits and adding a comedy sketch immediately before them.[16][18]

CNN chairman and CEO

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After the abrupt resignation of CNN president Jeff Zucker in February 2022, Licht was named his successor on February 26, 2022.[19][20][21]

On his first day as chairman and CEO of CNN, Licht sent a memo to all employees saying, "Sadly too many people have lost trust in the news media. I think we can be a beacon in regaining that trust by being an organization that exemplifies the best characteristics in journalism: fearlessly speaking truth to power, challenging the status quo, questioning ‘group-think’ and educating viewers and readers with straightforward facts and insightful commentary, while always being respectful of differing viewpoints. First and foremost, we should, and we will be advocates for truth."[22] One such method involves limiting CNN's use of the term "breaking news" to stories that have a significant importance.[23] Licht has expressed a desire to change negative perceptions of CNN among Republicans.[24]

In late 2022, Licht received criticism as CNN terminated the contracts of several long-time correspondents including Brian Stelter, John Harwood, and Jeffrey Toobin.[25] The Washington Post described the moves "as the latest evidence of a shift to a less politically charged tone under new leader Chris Licht."[25]

Licht was fired as CNN's president and CEO in June 2023 after The Atlantic revealed that employees had become unhappy with him over actions taken during his tenure.[26][27]

Awards

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While Licht was executive producer of CBS This Morning, the series won a Peabody Award and three Emmy Awards (one Daytime Emmy Award and two News & Documentary Emmy Awards).[28] As CBS This Morning's executive producer, he was co-nominated for three Emmy Awards in 2015: one for Outstanding Investigative Journalism in a Regularly Scheduled Newscast, one for Outstanding Feature Story in a Regularly Scheduled Newscast, and one for Outstanding Continuing Coverage of a News Story in a Regularly Scheduled Newscast.[29] The following year, the series won an Emmy for Outstanding Investigative Journalism in a Regularly Scheduled Newscast for a story on fraud at compounding pharmacies, which he co-executive produced with Steve Capus.[30]

Personal life

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On April 28, 2010, Licht suffered a near-fatal cerebral hemorrhage while driving in Washington, D.C. He later wrote a book about the resulting experience, What I Learned When I Almost Died: How a Maniac TV Producer Put Down His BlackBerry and Started to Live His Life, which was published in 2011.[31][32] Joe Biden, the then-vice president and a survivor of an aneurysm himself, cold-called Dr. Vivek Deshmukh, a highly recommended neurosurgeon, to ask him to take care of Licht.[3][33][34]

As of 2017, Licht lived in Manhattan with his wife, Jenny Blanco, and their two sons.[35] Blanco worked at CNN for several years as a producer for Anderson Cooper and then as a director of talent recruiting and development.[20] Licht and Blanco began dating while both were on assignment at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. They married in April 2006 at the L'Auberge Del Mar, in Del Mar, California.[1]

Book

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  • What I Learned When I Almost Died: How a Maniac TV Producer Put Down His BlackBerry and Started to Live His Life. New York: Simon & Schuster. 2011. ISBN 978-1451627671.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Jennifer Blanco and Christopher Licht". The New York Times. April 23, 2006. Archived from the original on April 24, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  2. ^ a b POLITICO Staff (October 22, 2018). "BIRTHDAY OF THE DAY: Chris Licht, executive producer/showrunner of 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' and EVP of special programming at CBS Corp". POLITICO. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Crevier, Nancy (May 27, 2011). "A Brush With Death-Newtown Native To Share 'What I Learned'". Newtown Bee. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  4. ^ Randall, Henry Pettus (1993). Who's who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. Randall Publishing Company.
  5. ^ "Chris Licht: 50 Forward". Newhouse School Syracuse University. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  6. ^ Cerqueiro, Pablo (2002). "Alumni News & Notes". Syracuse University Magazine. Vol. 19, no. 4. Syracuse University. p. 56. Archived from the original on September 14, 2021. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  7. ^ Herbert, Geoff (February 26, 2022). "Syracuse University alum Chris Licht selected as new CNN president". Syracuse Post-Standard. Archived from the original on March 22, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  8. ^ Ariens, Chris (September 29, 2014). "Syracuse Cuts Ribbon on Upgrades At S.I. Newhouse School". Adweek. Archived from the original on June 6, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  9. ^ Stelter, Brian (February 26, 2022). "Chris Licht has been selected as next president of CNN". CNN Business. Archived from the original on May 31, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  10. ^ Morgan, John W. (September 29, 2013). "Chris Licht, Executive Producer Of 'CBS This Morning,' To Discuss Network Morning News". NY Daily News. Archived from the original on September 14, 2021. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  11. ^ Ariens, Chris (April 15, 2016). "Chris Licht's Morning Show Send-Off". Adweek. Archived from the original on April 13, 2017. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
  12. ^ Heilemann, John (May 20, 2011). "86 Minutes With Chris Licht". New York Magazine. Archived from the original on September 5, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  13. ^ Battaglio, Stephen (April 14, 2016). "'CBS This Morning' producer Chris Licht is new show runner for Colbert's 'Late Show'". Los Angeles Times (published April 13, 2016). Archived from the original on April 13, 2017. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
  14. ^ Koblin, John (April 14, 2016). "CBS Hopes for a Stephen Colbert Bump From a New Leader at 'The Late Show'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 13, 2017. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
  15. ^ Battaglio, Stephen (February 26, 2022). "'Colbert' producer Chris Licht will be the new president of CNN". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 27, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  16. ^ a b Koblin, John (April 9, 2017). "How Stephen Colbert Finally Found His Elusive Groove". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 12, 2017. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
  17. ^ Pallotta, Frank (May 12, 2016). "Stephen Colbert gets a bump after new producer takes the reins". CNN Money. Archived from the original on April 16, 2021. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  18. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (April 13, 2016). "'CBS This Morning' Exec Producer Tapped as Showrunner of 'Late Show With Stephen Colbert'". Variety. Archived from the original on December 21, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  19. ^ Byers, Dylan (February 26, 2022). "Jeff Zucker's Successor Is… Chris Licht". Puck. Archived from the original on September 5, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  20. ^ a b Grynbaum, Michael M.; Koblin, John (February 26, 2022). "Chris Licht, a Creator of 'Morning Joe' and 'Colbert' Producer, Is Set to Run CNN". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 20, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  21. ^ Stelter, Brian (February 28, 2022). "Chris Licht introduces himself to CNN as its next CEO". CNN. Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  22. ^ Katz, A.J. (May 2, 2022). "The Chris Licht Era at CNN Starts Today". TVNewser. Adweek. Archived from the original on May 11, 2022. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  23. ^ Fischer, Sara (June 2, 2022). "CNN cutting back on over-hyping everything as "breaking news"". Axios. Axios Media Inc. Archived from the original on August 26, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  24. ^ Bauder, David (August 26, 2022). "CNN management intent on changing perception of the network". ABC News. Archived from the original on September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  25. ^ a b Barr, Jeremy (September 3, 2022). "'Is there a purge?': John Harwood's CNN exit viewed as strategy shift". Washington Post. Archived from the original on September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  26. ^ "Licht's Out". Puck. June 7, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  27. ^ Alberta, Tim (June 2, 2023). "Inside the Meltdown at CNN". The Atlantic. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  28. ^ "Chris Licht". CBS Press Express. CBS. Archived from the original on April 26, 2017. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  29. ^ Flood, Brian (July 22, 2015). "CBS Nominated for 44 News & Documentary Emmy Awards". Adweek. Archived from the original on September 11, 2017. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  30. ^ Staff (September 22, 2016). "'Frontline,' '60 Minutes' Dominate News and Documentary Emmy Awards (FULL LIST)". Variety. Archived from the original on April 26, 2017. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  31. ^ Grove, Lloyd (May 22, 2011). "'Killer Producer' Chris Licht's New Life". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on April 18, 2017. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
  32. ^ Licht, Chris (May 24, 2011). "Near-death experience teaches TV producer how to live". TODAY.com. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  33. ^ "Joe Biden goes into action for TV producer battling a brain hemorrhage". Washington Post. May 5, 2011. Archived from the original on March 1, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  34. ^ Sachs, Andrea (July 2, 2011). "Q&A: TV Exec Chris Licht on His Near-Death Experience". Time. Archived from the original on July 21, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  35. ^ "About Chris". Chrislicht.com. Archived from the original on April 13, 2017. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
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