Top of the Ticker: Where do former cable news anchors go when their network gigs are up? Substack! The New York Times recently covered how Jim Acosta, Joy Reid, Mehdi Hassan, Don Lemon, and many other former cable personalities have found a new home on the publishing platform.
As the article outlines, Substack has recently made a push into video, which makes it an attractive option for former on-air personalities. Of course, that transition has not always been smooth as the anchors now have to adjust to creating their own subscription models plus work within bare-bones operations.
However, they also appreciate the casualness that comes with being on the platform, which former CNN head Jeff Zucker said allows for a more personal connection with their audience. “Viewers just want to hang out and hear from someone they like and trust,” Zucker observed.
Partnership Extended: NewsNation and The Hill have extended their agreement with polling and election data provider Decision Desk HQ for the 2025 and 2026 election cycles. Under the terms of the agreement, Decision Desk HQ will provide exclusive election data, voter analysis, polling information, and other insight into various political races across the country. NewsNation’s ongoing partnership with Decision Desk has paid off for the network as it was the first news network to call the 2024 presidential election for Donald Trump.
Webby Wonders: CNN led all broadcast and cable news outlets at the 29th Annual Webby Awards, receiving 16 nominations, including Media Company of the Year. ABC News, MSNBC, Vice News, PBS News, and Al Jazeera also received nominations. The winners will be announced on Tuesday, April 22, and the ceremony will be held on May 12 in New York City hosted by Ilana Glazer.
Celebrations Continue: Former and present anchors of ABC News’ Nightline marked the newsmagazine’s 45th anniversary with a featurette discussing the show’s enduring legacy and memorable moments behind the anchor desk. Among those featured in the video are Ted Koppel, Juju Chang, Byron Pitts, Bill Weir, and many more.
Quick Takes: MSNBC’s Mike Brzezinski was featured in the latest issue of Northern Virginia magazine speaking about her parents’ immigration experience from Poland, growing up in the region, and the road to her journalism career.
Meanwhile, NewsNation’s Leland Vittert will release his first book. Entitled Born Lucky: A Dedicated Father, A Grateful Son, and My Journey with Autism, the tome is scheduled to hit shelves on Sept. 30, 2025 and detail Vittert’s personal experience with autism and how he made it into the anchor’s chair.
