California AG Rob Bonta ‘Concerned’ About CNN’s Future Under Paramount: ‘Our Information Ecosystem Is Broken’

California Attorney General Rob Bonta expressed his concerns about the future of CNN under Paramount, emphasizing the need to preserve the integrity of the nation's information ecosystem. Bonta highlighted the protections for editorial independence included in the settlement that finalized Paramount's acquisition of Warner Bros.

Discovery. He stated, "I care about our information ecosystem. It's broken," citing misinformation and disinformation as significant issues. During TheWrap's TheGrill conference, Bonta reiterated his concerns, noting that they were a driving force behind the settlement provisions that safeguarded CNN and CBS News' editorial independence.

Additionally, Paramount committed to maintaining journalistic integrity and adhering to fact-based, unbiased reporting. These comments followed the settlement of an antitrust lawsuit by Bonta alongside 12 other state attorneys general, which cleared a major hurdle for the $110 billion merger. The settlement requires Paramount to establish a five-member News Editorial Independence Board, overseeing CNN and CBS News, with members to be selected from current or former journalists.

Bonta acknowledged questions about the board's power, particularly given Paramount's board of directors' role in the selection process. While Bonta insisted there was no political pressure from California Governor Gavin Newsom or Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass in reaching the settlement, he stressed that Paramount had begun addressing the attorneys general's concerns about antitrust issues.

Bonta's worries about CNN's future are rooted in broader issues affecting American news and information, arguing that the country should "share the same facts" to work towards solutions.