CNN cancels newsmagazine, may cut Internet staffing

CNN has canceled "NewsStand," the newsmagazine that former CNN chief Rick Kaplan hoped would become a bedrock of the network’s prime-time lineup.

And in the wake of last week’s merger between AOL and Time Warner, CNN’s parent company, CNN moved to undo much of Kaplan’s agenda — and copy rivals MSNBC and Fox News — with less-expensive talk shows and news. Kaplan was fired last summer.

As many as 1,000 CNN employees — many of them from the Internet side — are expected to be laid off, making for jittery times at CNN and elsewhere. NBC also announced layoffs Friday. ABC has a hiring freeze.

Jeff Greenfield, the former ABC "Nightline" correspondent brought in by Kaplan to host "NewsStand," has signed a new multi-year deal and is expected to anchor a 6 or 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time public policy talk show. "Showbiz Today" is expected to be folded into other programs. Elsa Klensch has resigned as host of "Style." Bob Furnad, a longtime CNN veteran who heads "Headline News," is leaving. Daryn Kagan, who had co-hosted CNN’s "Morning News" with Bill Hemmer, is sole host.

CNN’s new prime-time lineup is a combination of news and issues of the day.

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