On the finish of his first 12 months as CNN’s president, Jeff Zucker delivered a notice to his body of workers that thanks them for a 2013 by which there was once “much to be happy with” and appears forward to 2014, when his objectives of “broadening the definition of reports” will begin to take shape in earnest. “now We have had a in reality excellent year. And we have now a lot more to do,” he writes. “That’s what excites me probably the most.”

In an interview with Capital New York previous this month, Zucker printed his plans to inject more “attitude” in to CNN’s programming and produce “more presentations and no more newscasts.”

Read Zucker’s full memo to the CNN group of workers under:

December 23, 2013

As 2013 comes to a detailed, I needed to take a moment to mirror on the yr.

And, most significantly, to thank every of you for making this a a success 12 months for CNN Worldwide. For CNN, HLN, CNN World, CNN en Español and CNN Digital, there was once so much to be happy with this year.

As soon as once more, the organization’s dedication to excellence in journalism and newsgathering was once paramount. This year noticed some out of the ordinary news situations, including the tragic bombings in Boston, tornadoes in Oklahoma, the election of a new Pope and beginning of a royal child, a coup in Cairo, the devastating hurricane in the Philippines and the loss of life of Nelson Mandela. CNN used to be at all of these situations, and so many others, in ways no other information group can also be. The strength of our anchors and journalists, the depth of our production teams and photojournalists, and data of our at the back of the scenes groups, blended with the ability of all of our structures, as soon as again confirmed why CNN truly is the global news leader.

With our commitment to excellence in all of our programming, our peers took discover. In 2013, CNN used to be identified with three Information Emmys, and two first-ever prime time Emmys for Anthony Bourdain Elements Unknown, in addition to a Peabody Award for our protection in Syria. CNN World was identified with the aid of the Royal Television Society as the News Channel of the Yr, and with an Asian Television Award for Cable and Satellite Channel of the Yr. An out of this world 12 months for CNN Global. And heading into 2014, CNN Movies is on the short list for an Academy Award in the Documentary category for Blackfish. In our first year of even having a film division!

Competitively speaking, there is so much to be happy with. CNN Digital had its perfect year, EVER. In almost every dimension, CNN’s digital residences, domestically and internationally, hit record highs. HLN was the one domestic cable news network to grow its target market this year, up double digits across the board. CNN moved from the 0.33 most watched cable news network in 2012 to second in 2013.

This was a transitional yr for CNN Worldwide. As we shut out 2013, our programming lineup on both the home and global channels seems totally different than it did this time last year. Our digital merchandise do, as well, and are within the final ranges of an even more significant reinvention quickly. There are a number of new names and faces on our air and contributing online, and we are striking them to work in ways that we haven’t carried out ahead of. In the back of the scenes we have now begun to alter the way we accumulate news and share it throughout the organization.

And there may be way more to do. If you thought we did lots in 2013, wait until you see 2014. Actual change that transforms an organization doesn’t happen overnight. I have talked rather a lot about broadening the definition of stories. You might have seen the beginning of that, particularly at CNN, the place we’ve got begun to introduce new series, documentaries and movies to augment our ideal-in-class breaking news coverage.

I’m regularly requested what has surprised me essentially the most in my 12 months here. I believe it’s the implausible breadth and scope and depth of this group. It’s so laborious to fathom from the outside simply how giant and a ways-achieving we’re. CNN Worldwide is a formidable collection of systems that, taken collectively, is unmatched.

None of it will be imaginable with out each of you and with out every single workforce that makes all of it happen. It’s finance and accounting, legal and human tools, advertising and merchandising, standards and practices and The Row (yes, even The Row), Image and Sound and BEST, Grasp Keep watch over and the NCC and ACC, the Library and Security, and each other division right here that makes positive that all of our networks and systems be triumphant.

We have now had a really just right year. And we have a lot more to do. That’s what excites me probably the most.

I want to also take this opportunity to say thanks to Phil Kent, who has so efficiently led Turner Broadcasting for these closing 12 years, and who always made CNN his precedence. We by no means had a better friend and we have now been blessed to have him at the helm.

I hope the coming days supply every one in all you the chance to reflect by yourself successes – each individually and professionally. If there is one thing being on this trade teaches you, it is that lifestyles can trade immediately. Take time for what’s necessary. Leisure and recharge when and the place that you could. I will’t wait to look what 2014 brings us.

Jeff

[h/t TVNewser]
[picture by the use of CNN]

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