CNN backs off plan to hire GOP operative Sarah Isgur for political desk

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

CNN backs off plan to hire GOP operative for political desk

March 8, 2019

NEW YORK (AP) — CNN is backing off from its plan to hire a former spokeswoman for Attorney General Jeff Sessions as a politics editor, and will use Sarah Isgur as an analyst on the air instead.

The network received criticism for hiring a political operative for a journalism job with potential influence over how the 2020 presidential campaign is covered. Isgur, who is a lawyer, also worked for Carly Fiorina’s Republican presidential campaign in 2016.

Isgur announced the change of plans on Twitter Friday, saying she will start next month analyzing politics on air and online.

The network confirmed the change in plans, saying Isgur had a change of heart and thought the different job made more sense.

https://apnews.com/6a7fa42cc2e54e7b8464ad05cc0bf880

[mobeau69]

1. WTF were they thinking?

[RandySF]

2. Good

[Dennis Donovan]

3. Good. I figured they were making a play for Faux's disaffected semi-sane Repugs...

You know who I mean, the Conservatives, Not Nuts.

[radius777]

4. The fact that they tried this is troubling.

You can't have political operatives (which is what she is) working behind the scenes guiding coverage - especially not one who took a loyalty oath to Trump.

It's fine if she works in front of the camera/online, as an analyst etc - then viewers can decide for themselves what they think of her/her views.

[lilactime]

5. That article isn't clear. Did CNN come to its senses or did she change her mind??

Either way CNN's judgment will always be suspect after hiring her in the first place.

[PSPS]

6. Isgur is no better. How about hiring a, you know, a real journalist.