Brian Stelter is Returning to CNN two years after being Let Go by the Cable Network

Brian Stelter is making a return to CNN two years after the cable network canceled his show and dismissed him. Stelter shared the news in a detailed essay in the company’s Reliable Sources newsletter, the same newsletter associated with the weekly program he hosted until his departure in 2022.

"I'm coming back to CNN in a new position as Chief Media Analyst. This role will involve appearing on air, creating digital content, and leading this newsletter. Things will be different, as I am different," Stelter wrote to readers.

Oliver Darcy, who succeeded Stelter on Reliable Sources, left CNN to start his own venture, Status, which is described as a "nightly briefing that informs readers about the real dynamics within media power." During his time away from CNN, Stelter made occasional appearances on Kaitlan Collins' nightly show, "The Source." "I used to dismiss people who claimed 'getting fired was the best thing that ever happened to me', until it happened to me. After more than 20 years immersed in news, I altered my routines and took a break. I also shifted my perspective, relocating from Manhattan to a horse farm near one of Donald Trump's golf courses," Stelter said.

The former CNN host went on to explain that he "experienced news as a typical consumer, which provided valuable insights into the attention economy and the information ecosystem."

In August 2022, Stelter was dismissed as the network sought to reduce expenses under the controversial leadership of former CNN chairman and CEO Chris Licht. Licht's tenure was marked by efforts to create a less opinionated and politicized product to attract a broader audience, but these attempts were largely overshadowed by a series of internal difficulties during his time at the network. It is widely believed that Stelter was let go by Licht and CNN executives due to his 2020 book, Hoax, which critiques CNN's rival Fox News Channel and was perceived as a politically motivated move.