Daily Beast boss Joanna Coles scrambles to recruit ex-CNN host Brian Stelter amid massive layoffs: sources
NY Post
Newly-installed Daily Beast boss Joanna Coles is scrambling to hire boldface names like ousted CNN host Brian Stelter – as she sharpens the ax to slash more than a third of the staff, The Post has learned.
Coles — who was brought in by media mogul Barry Diller along with Disney bigwig Ben Sherwood last month to resuscitate the floundering news site — reached out to Stelter, the former anchor of CNN’s now-defunct “Reliable Sources,” to run the Beast’s media coverage, sources close to the situation told The Post on Tuesday.
Stelter, who has landed a special correspondent role at Vanity Fair since being dumped by CNN, declined to comment.
Coles’ purported attempt to lure Stelter comes as the outlet confirmed Tuesday that it offered voluntary buyouts to its 37 unionized staffers.
A source close to The Beast said roughly 30% are expected to grab the lifeline before it expires in mid-June.
“You either take the buyout or risk being laid off, as Coles wants to create a newsroom in her own image,” the source said, noting that layoffs will “likely be even worse” than the 30% figure.
