The media industry’s "revolving door" has been particularly active this week, with several major networks announcing significant hires and internal promotions.
At Fox News, the network has officially brought Billy Bush into the fold as a contributor. Bush, whose career has spanned high-profile roles at Access Hollywood and Extra, will appear across all Fox News Media platforms. He made his network debut on Tuesday night during a segment on Jesse Watters Primetime. The move marks a significant return to the cable news spotlight for Bush, whose career faced a high-profile hiatus following the 2016 leak of the Access Hollywood tape involving Donald Trump.
In another major move at Fox, Larry Kudlow has been tapped to serve as the temporary anchor for Sunday Morning Futures. Kudlow, the former Director of the National Economic Council under the Trump administration and a current host on Fox Business, will lead the program through November 8. He steps into the role following the departure of Maria Bartiromo, whose exit from the show was announced on September 3. Kudlow’s appointment ensures that one of the network’s most-watched weekend programs remains helmed by a familiar face during the critical final stretch of the election season.
CNN is also making moves to bolster its domestic bureaus. The network has promoted Leigh Waldman to the position of Los Angeles-based correspondent, effective October 12. Waldman is a familiar face within the organization, having previously served as a correspondent for CNN Newsource out of the New York bureau. Her transition to the West Coast comes at a time when CNN is looking to enhance its coverage of California’s political and cultural influence.
Meanwhile, CNBC has announced a series of strategic appointments aimed at strengthening its business and technology reporting. Megan Morrone is joining the network from Axios, where she will serve as a technology editor based in the San Francisco bureau. Reporting to Christina Passariello, Morrone will be tasked with leading coverage of the tech industry’s most influential players and emerging trends.
CNBC also welcomed Daren Fonda as a senior editor for investing. Fonda joins the network from Barron’s and will report to John Melloy. Rounding out the new hires are Sebastien Chasse, who joins as a senior equity analyst and reporter, and Paulina Likos, who transitions into a role as a markets reporter. Likos previously contributed to the CNBC Investing Club, and her move to the broader markets team highlights the network’s focus on providing actionable financial data to its audience.
These personnel shifts, combined with the major corporate restructuring at WBD and the milestone celebrations at NBC, underscore a period of intense transition for the American media industry. As traditional networks grapple with new ownership and shifting viewer habits, the movement of top-tier talent remains a key indicator of where these organizations see their future growth.
