In a surprising twist in the media world, tech billionaire Elon Musk has agreed to a $3 billion deal to acquire the US news network CNN. According to confidential sources, the agreement was negotiated behind closed doors in recent weeks and is expected to be formally finalized in the coming months.
Musk, who has already acquired Twitter (now X) and is known as CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, announced his intention to lead CNN into a new era – one of “radical transparency” and “zero tolerance for harmful content.”
“The public deserves to consume news that isn’t distorted by political agendas or ideological bias,” Musk said in a statement on X. “I will make CNN a platform focused on facts, not fear and division.”
Reactions to the planned deal have been mixed. Supporters celebrate Musk’s move as a necessary change in an increasingly polarized media landscape. Critics, however, fear that Musk could allow his personal views to influence CNN’s editorial direction.
Particularly controversial: Musk hinted at replacing several well-known faces at CNN, including anchors who, he said, “too often presented opinions instead of facts.” An internal audit will also be conducted to identify and prevent so-called “problematic reporting” in the future.
Industry experts are eager to see if Musk can transform CNN in a similar way to Twitter/X. However, some warn against a further step toward a personalized media system that revolves around individuals rather than editorial integrity.
Whether Musk’s promise to “end harmful content” is a dawn of a new media era or a dangerous infringement on press freedom remains to be seen.
