BREAKING: CNN to begin mass layoffs, CEO says

The email begins, "Our people are the heart and soul of this organization. It is incredibly hard to say goodbye to any one member of the CNN team, much less many. I recently described this process as a gut punch, because I know that is how it feels for all of us.

"Today we will notify a limited number of individuals, largely some of our paid contributors, as part of a recalibrated reporting strategy.

"Tomorrow, we will notify impacted employees, and tomorrow afternoon I will follow up with more details on these changes. It will be a difficult time for everyone. If your job has been impacted, you will learn more through an in-person meeting or via Zoom, depending on your location. In those meetings, you will receive information specific to you about notice period or any severance that would apply, and your anticipated last day. I want to be clear that everyone who is bonus eligible will still receive their 2022 bonuses, which are determined by company performance," the email states.

"I know these changes affect both our departing colleagues and those who remain, and we have resources designed to support you. I will include a link to those resources in my follow up email tomorrow. Let's take care of each other this week," it concludes.

CNN has attempted to embrace a "middle ground" vision of reporting since Chris Licht took over as CNN president in February after disgraced former boss Jeff Zucker was ousted due to a salacious affair scandal. Licht said in June that he wanted to reduce the partisan nature of some of the network's programming and on-air personalities.

Licht promised to prune the network in order to reduce its partisanship.

CNN has been plagued with consistent low viewership ratings in recent months. Earlier in August, reports emerged that the network was on the "hunt for new revenue" as their ratings plummeted. Their profits have slumped steeply since 2016, reflecting the energy the channel poured into reporting on former President Donald Trump.