CNN Business launches investigation into 'treatment of women' in workplace

CNN Business has launched a "work environment assessment" which aims to investigate the work culture and treatment of women within the company, according to a Business Insider report Tuesday.

"CNN has opened an internal investigation into the treatment of women and workplace culture at CNN Business, its digital unit covering tech, markets, and media, according to people familiar with the matter,” tweeted Business Insider reporter Steven Perlberg.

"The "work environment assessment," as the inquiry is being called internally, is being conducted by HR employees at CNN’s parent company, AT&T’s WarnerMedia," wrote Perlberg, who cited three anonymous sources with knowledge of the investigation.

"The assessment appears to be focused on workplace culture, not the behavior of an individual, according to two of the sources," stated Perlberg.

Reports from women, including anchor Brooke Baldwin, point to a gender imbalance within CNN, where women are held back from higher ranking and paying positions within the company.

"I’ve found there to be a lack of transparency in how to get promoted or how to appear on TV," a female CNN staffer told Perlberg. "I get the feeling the company wants to keep as many people as possible at a low pay grade or stay in a certain box and that has led to women not being supported."

CNN anchor Brooke Baldwin left the company in mid April, telling On The Issues podcast host Michele Goodwin about the imbalances between men and women in high ranking positions within CNN.

"Let me lift the curtain a little bit. In that time, you know, the most influential anchors on our network, the highest-paid, are men. My bosses, my executives, are men. The person who oversees CNN Dayside is a man, and my executive producer for 10 years is a man. So I’ve been surrounded by a lot of men," said Baldwin.

"By having women in power, I would argue behind the scenes, not just in front but behind the scenes, that is how you have stories that reflect who they are. And not only white women. We talk about being intersectional. There is no way we will have progress if a bunch of white women are winning. It’s brown women, Black women, Asian women, it’s across the board. We have to see them reflected in our stories. It’s getting better, but we still have a bit of a ways to go, I think," she continued.

According to Perlberg's report, Meredith Artley, senior Vice President of CNN Digital, acknowledged the HR internal investigation on an April 20 "ask me anything" call with CNN Business.