Chris Licht
{{short description|American television newsman and producer (born 1971)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Chris Licht
| image = Chris Licht 2015 crop.jpg
| caption = Licht in 2015
| alt =
| birth_name = Christopher Andrew Licht
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1971|10|22}}
| birth_place = Switzerland
| nationality = American
| death_date =
| death_place =
| education = Syracuse University (BA)
| employer =
| years_active = 1993–present
| spouse = {{married|Jenny Blanco|2006}}
| children = 2
| notable_works = {{ubl|The Late Show with Stephen Colbert|Our Cartoon President|CBS This Morning
Morning Joe}}
}}
Christopher Andrew Licht (born October 22, 1971){{Cite web |author=POLITICO Staff |title=BIRTHDAY OF THE DAY: Chris Licht, executive producer/showrunner of 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' and EVP of special programming at CBS Corp. |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/10/22/playbook-birthday-chris-licht-921833 |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=POLITICO |date=October 22, 2018 |language=en}} is an American television newsman and producer. He is best known as the showrunner and executive producer of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, as well as CBS's executive vice president of special programming. He is also known for having launched Morning Joe on MSNBC, and the reboot of CBS This Morning. From May 2022 to June 2023 he was the chairman and CEO of CNN.
Early life and education
Licht was born in Switzerland, to Susan Mary (Kneeland) and Dr. Peter David Licht of Newtown, Connecticut.{{cite book |last1=Randall |first1=Henry Pettus |title=Who's who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges |date=1993 |publisher=Randall Publishing Company |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n98rAQAAIAAJ |language=en}} He graduated from Syracuse University's S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications in 1993 with a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism and political science.{{cite news |title=Chris Licht: 50 Forward |url=https://50forward.syr.edu/honoree/chris-licht/ |access-date=26 February 2022 |work=Newhouse School Syracuse University |archive-date=February 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226220955/https://50forward.syr.edu/honoree/chris-licht/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite magazine |title=Alumni News & Notes |url=https://surface.syr.edu/sumagazine/vol19/iss4/11/ |last=Cerqueiro |first=Pablo |page=56 |magazine=Syracuse University Magazine |volume=19 |issue=4 |publisher=Syracuse University |year=2002 |access-date=September 14, 2021 |archive-date=September 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914020135/https://surface.syr.edu/sumagazine/vol19/iss4/11/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Herbert |first1=Geoff |title=Syracuse University alum Chris Licht selected as new CNN president |url=https://www.syracuse.com/entertainment/2022/02/syracuse-university-alum-chris-licht-selected-as-new-cnn-president.html |access-date=26 February 2022 |work=Syracuse Post-Standard |date=26 February 2022 |language=en |archive-date=March 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220322003340/https://www.syracuse.com/entertainment/2022/02/syracuse-university-alum-chris-licht-selected-as-new-cnn-president.html |url-status=live }} In 2014, one of the TV news control rooms at the Newhouse Studio and Innovation Center was named in his honor.{{cite news |last1=Ariens |first1=Chris |title=Syracuse Cuts Ribbon on Upgrades At S.I. Newhouse School |url=https://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/syracuse-cuts-ribbon-on-upgrades-at-s-i-newhouse-school/241576/ |access-date=26 February 2022 |work=Adweek |date=September 29, 2014 |archive-date=June 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220606220739/https://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/syracuse-cuts-ribbon-on-upgrades-at-s-i-newhouse-school/241576/ |url-status=live }}
Career
Licht began his career at KNBC in Los Angeles around the time of the O. J. Simpson trial. He also worked with local NBC affiliates in LA and San Francisco markets.{{cite news |last1=Stelter |first1=Brian |title=Chris Licht has been selected as next president of CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/26/media/licht-cnn-president-zucker/index.html |access-date=26 February 2022 |work=CNN Business |date=26 February 2022 |archive-date=May 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531105958/https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/26/media/licht-cnn-president-zucker/index.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Morgan |first1=John W. |title=Chris Licht, Executive Producer Of 'CBS This Morning,' To Discuss Network Morning News |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/hc-xpm-2013-09-29-hcrs-80171-hamden-20130926-story.html |access-date=September 14, 2021 |work=NY Daily News |date=September 29, 2013 |archive-date=September 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914020133/https://www.nydailynews.com/hc-xpm-2013-09-29-hcrs-80171-hamden-20130926-story.html |url-status=live }}
In 2005, he joined MSNBC as the executive producer for Scarborough Country and later was the founding executive producer of Morning Joe, which he and host Joe Scarborough helped create prior to its launch in 2007.{{Cite web |url=http://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/chris-lichts-morning-show-send-off/290677 |title=Chris Licht's Morning Show Send-Off |last=Ariens |first=Chris |website=Adweek |date=April 15, 2016 |publication-date=April 15, 2016 |access-date=April 12, 2017 |archive-date=April 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413080300/http://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/chris-lichts-morning-show-send-off/290677 |url-status=live }}
He joined CBS in 2011 and was named vice president of programming at CBS News.{{cite magazine |last1=Heilemann |first1=John |title=86 Minutes With Chris Licht |url=https://nymag.com/news/intelligencer/encounter/chris-licht-2011-5/ |access-date=26 February 2022 |magazine=New York Magazine |date=May 20, 2011 |language=en-us |archive-date=September 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905051633/https://nymag.com/news/intelligencer/encounter/chris-licht-2011-5/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-colbert-licht-late-show-20160413-story.html |title='CBS This Morning' producer Chris Licht is new show runner for Colbert's 'Late Show' |last=Battaglio |first=Stephen |website=Los Angeles Times |date=April 14, 2016 |publication-date=April 13, 2016 |access-date=April 12, 2017 |archive-date=April 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413073137/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-colbert-licht-late-show-20160413-story.html |url-status=live }} Licht was the executive producer of CBS This Morning starting when the show launched in 2012, and later joined The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in 2016. While in charge of CBS This Morning, he was credited with making the show unexpectedly successful, giving CBS its most competitive place in the morning show race in almost 30 years. This success occurred partly because Licht allowed the show's hosts Gayle King, Charlie Rose, and Norah O'Donnell, to talk freely about news events and about themselves.{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/15/business/media/hoping-chris-licht-will-do-for-the-late-show-what-the-super-bowl-didnt.html |title=CBS Hopes for a Stephen Colbert Bump From a New Leader at 'The Late Show' |last=Koblin |first=John |website=The New York Times |date=April 14, 2016 |publication-date=April 14, 2016 |access-date=April 12, 2017 |archive-date=April 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413050536/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/15/business/media/hoping-chris-licht-will-do-for-the-late-show-what-the-super-bowl-didnt.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Battaglio |first1=Stephen |title='Colbert' producer Chris Licht will be the new president of CNN |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2022-02-26/chris-licht-will-be-the-new-president-of-cnn |access-date=26 February 2022 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=26 February 2022 |archive-date=August 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220827141151/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2022-02-26/chris-licht-will-be-the-new-president-of-cnn |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/09/business/media/stephen-colbert-election-late-night.html |title=How Stephen Colbert Finally Found His Elusive Groove |last=Koblin |first=John |website=The New York Times |date=April 9, 2017 |publication-date=April 9, 2017 |access-date=April 12, 2017 |archive-date=April 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170412102205/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/09/business/media/stephen-colbert-election-late-night.html |url-status=live }} A month after he was named executive producer and showrunner of The Late Show, the show saw its largest weekly audience since February 19 of that year.{{Cite web |url=https://money.cnn.com/2016/05/12/media/stephen-colbert-late-show-ratings-chris-licht-cbs/ |title=Stephen Colbert gets a bump after new producer takes the reins |last=Pallotta |first=Frank |website=CNN Money |date=May 12, 2016 |publication-date=May 12, 2016 |access-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-date=April 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416184357/https://money.cnn.com/2016/05/12/media/stephen-colbert-late-show-ratings-chris-licht-cbs/ |url-status=live }} As executive producer, he focused on management issues that host Stephen Colbert had previously handled, as well as shortening the opening credits and adding a comedy sketch immediately before them.{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/stephen-colbert-late-show-chris-licht-showrunner-1201752457/ |title='CBS This Morning' Exec Producer Tapped as Showrunner of 'Late Show With Stephen Colbert' |last=Littleton |first=Cynthia |website=Variety |date=April 13, 2016 |publication-date=April 13, 2016 |access-date=December 13, 2017 |archive-date=December 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171221085523/http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/stephen-colbert-late-show-chris-licht-showrunner-1201752457/ |url-status=live }}
=CNN chairman and CEO=
After the abrupt resignation of CNN president Jeff Zucker in February 2022, Licht was named his successor on February 26, 2022.{{cite news |last1=Byers |first1=Dylan |title=Jeff Zucker's Successor Is… Chris Licht |url=https://puck.news/jeff-zuckers-successor-is-chris-licht/ |access-date=26 February 2022 |work=Puck |date=26 February 2022 |archive-date=September 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905180447/https://puck.news/jeff-zuckers-successor-is-chris-licht/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Stelter |first1=Brian |title=Chris Licht introduces himself to CNN as its next CEO |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/28/media/chris-licht-cnn-chief-executive/index.html |access-date=10 April 2022 |work=CNN |date=28 February 2022 |language=en |archive-date=August 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819235321/https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/28/media/chris-licht-cnn-chief-executive/index.html |url-status=live }}
On his first day as chairman and CEO of CNN, Licht sent a memo to all employees saying, "Sadly too many people have lost trust in the news media. I think we can be a beacon in regaining that trust by being an organization that exemplifies the best characteristics in journalism: fearlessly speaking truth to power, challenging the status quo, questioning ‘group-think’ and educating viewers and readers with straightforward facts and insightful commentary, while always being respectful of differing viewpoints. First and foremost, we should, and we will be advocates for truth."{{cite news |last=Katz |first=A.J. |url=https://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/the-chris-licht-era-at-cnn-begins-today/506480/ |title=The Chris Licht Era at CNN Starts Today |work=TVNewser |publisher=Adweek |date=2022-05-02 |accessdate=2022-05-02 |archive-date=May 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511035154/https://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/the-chris-licht-era-at-cnn-begins-today/506480/ |url-status=live }} One such method involves limiting CNN's use of the term "breaking news" to stories that have a significant importance.{{cite news |last=Fischer |first=Sara |url=https://www.axios.com/2022/06/02/cnn-breaking-news-guidelines |title=CNN cutting back on over-hyping everything as "breaking news" |work=Axios |publisher=Axios Media Inc. |date=2022-06-02 |accessdate=2022-06-24 |archive-date=August 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826231455/https://www.axios.com/2022/06/02/cnn-breaking-news-guidelines |url-status=live }} Licht has expressed a desire to change negative perceptions of CNN among Republicans.{{Cite web |last=Bauder |first=David |date=2022-08-26 |title=CNN management intent on changing perception of the network |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/cnn-management-intent-changing-perception-network-88892179 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220907022134/https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/cnn-management-intent-changing-perception-network-88892179 |archive-date=September 7, 2022 |access-date=2022-09-05 |website=ABC News |language=en}}
In late 2022, Licht received criticism as CNN terminated the contracts of several long-time correspondents including Brian Stelter, John Harwood, and Jeffrey Toobin.{{Cite news |last=Barr |first=Jeremy |date=September 3, 2022 |title='Is there a purge?': John Harwood's CNN exit viewed as strategy shift |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/media/2022/09/02/john-harwood-cnn-chris-licht-stelter-opinion/ |newspaper=Washington Post |publication-date=September 3, 2022 |access-date=September 9, 2022 |archive-date=September 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220907203128/https://www.washingtonpost.com/media/2022/09/02/john-harwood-cnn-chris-licht-stelter-opinion/ |url-status=live }} The Washington Post described the moves "as the latest evidence of a shift to a less politically charged tone under new leader Chris Licht."
Licht was fired as CNN's president and CEO in June 2023 after The Atlantic revealed that employees had become unhappy with him over actions taken during his tenure.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-07 |title=Licht's Out |url=https://puck.news/lichts-out/ |access-date=2023-06-07 |website=Puck |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Alberta |first=Tim |date=June 2, 2023 |title=Inside the Meltdown at CNN |work=The Atlantic |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2023/06/cnn-ratings-chris-licht-trump/674255/ |access-date=June 7, 2023}}
Awards
While Licht was executive producer of CBS This Morning, the series won a Peabody Award and three Emmy Awards (one Daytime Emmy Award and two News & Documentary Emmy Awards).{{cite web | url=https://www.cbspressexpress.com/cbs-television-studios/executives/view?id=1282 | title=Chris Licht | publisher=CBS | work=CBS Press Express | access-date=April 25, 2017 | archive-date=April 26, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170426152804/https://www.cbspressexpress.com/cbs-television-studios/executives/view?id=1282 | url-status=live }} As CBS This Morning's executive producer, he was co-nominated for three Emmy Awards in 2015: one for Outstanding Investigative Journalism in a Regularly Scheduled Newscast, one for Outstanding Feature Story in a Regularly Scheduled Newscast, and one for Outstanding Continuing Coverage of a News Story in a Regularly Scheduled Newscast.{{cite web | url=http://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/cbs-nominated-for-44-news-documentary-emmy-awards/268098 | title=CBS Nominated for 44 News & Documentary Emmy Awards | work=Adweek | date=July 22, 2015 | access-date=April 25, 2017 | author=Flood, Brian | archive-date=September 11, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911090833/http://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/cbs-nominated-for-44-news-documentary-emmy-awards/268098 | url-status=live }} The following year, the series won an Emmy for Outstanding Investigative Journalism in a Regularly Scheduled Newscast for a story on fraud at compounding pharmacies, which he co-executive produced with Steve Capus.{{cite web | url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/frontline-60-minutes-news-and-documentary-award-winners-1201867659/ | title='Frontline,' '60 Minutes' Dominate News and Documentary Emmy Awards (FULL LIST) | work=Variety | date=September 22, 2016 | access-date=April 25, 2017 | author=Staff | archive-date=April 26, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170426151439/http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/frontline-60-minutes-news-and-documentary-award-winners-1201867659/ | url-status=live }}
Personal life
On April 28, 2010, Licht suffered a near-fatal cerebral hemorrhage while driving in Washington, D.C. He later wrote a book about the resulting experience, What I Learned When I Almost Died: How a Maniac TV Producer Put Down His BlackBerry and Started to Live His Life, which was published in 2011.{{Cite news |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/05/22/morning-joe-producer-chris-licht-on-his-new-book-and-new-life.html |title='Killer Producer' Chris Licht's New Life |last=Grove |first=Lloyd |website=The Daily Beast |date=May 22, 2011 |publication-date=May 22, 2011 |access-date=April 17, 2017 |archive-date=April 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170418083343/http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/05/22/morning-joe-producer-chris-licht-on-his-new-book-and-new-life.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Licht |first1=Chris |title=Near-death experience teaches TV producer how to live |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/near-death-experience-teaches-tv-producer-how-live-wbna43137967 |access-date=26 February 2022 |work=TODAY.com |date=May 24, 2011 |language=en |archive-date=February 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226224017/https://www.today.com/popculture/near-death-experience-teaches-tv-producer-how-live-wbna43137967 |url-status=live }} Joe Biden, the then-vice president and a survivor of an aneurysm himself, cold-called Dr. Vivek Deshmukh, a highly recommended neurosurgeon, to ask him to take care of Licht.{{cite news |last1=Crevier |first1=Nancy |title=A Brush With Death-Newtown Native To Share 'What I Learned' |url=https://www.newtownbee.com/05272011/a-brush-with-death-newtown-native-to-share-what-i-learned/ |access-date=26 February 2022 |work=Newtown Bee |date=May 27, 2011 |archive-date=February 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226220950/https://www.newtownbee.com/05272011/a-brush-with-death-newtown-native-to-share-what-i-learned/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Joe Biden goes into action for TV producer battling a brain hemorrhage |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/reliable-source/post/joe-biden-goes-into-action-for-tv-producer-battling-a-brain-hemorrhage/2011/05/05/AFqjNv1F_blog.html |access-date=26 February 2022 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=5 May 2011 |archive-date=March 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301024835/https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/reliable-source/post/joe-biden-goes-into-action-for-tv-producer-battling-a-brain-hemorrhage/2011/05/05/AFqjNv1F_blog.html |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine |last1=Sachs |first1=Andrea |title=Q&A: TV Exec Chris Licht on His Near-Death Experience |url=http://content.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,2080805,00.html |access-date=26 February 2022 |magazine=Time |date=2 July 2011 |archive-date=July 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220721013606/http://content.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,2080805,00.html |url-status=live }}
As of 2017, Licht lived in Manhattan with his wife, Jenny Blanco, and their two sons.{{Cite web|url=http://chrislicht.com/?page_id=194|title=About Chris|website=Chrislicht.com|access-date=April 12, 2017|archive-date=April 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413072813/http://chrislicht.com/?page_id=194|url-status=dead}} Blanco worked at CNN for several years as a producer for Anderson Cooper and then as a director of talent recruiting and development.{{cite news |last1=Grynbaum |first1=Michael M. |last2=Koblin |first2=John |title=Chris Licht, a Creator of 'Morning Joe' and 'Colbert' Producer, Is Set to Run CNN |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/26/business/media/cnn-chris-licht.html |access-date=26 February 2022 |work=The New York Times |date=26 February 2022 |archive-date=March 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320212619/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/26/business/media/cnn-chris-licht.html |url-status=live }} Licht and Blanco began dating while both were on assignment at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. They married in April 2006 at the L'Auberge Del Mar, in Del Mar, California.{{cite news |title=Jennifer Blanco and Christopher Licht |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/23/fashion/weddings/jennifer-blanco-and-christopher-licht.html |access-date=26 February 2022 |work=The New York Times |date=23 April 2006 |archive-date=April 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220424074826/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/23/fashion/weddings/jennifer-blanco-and-christopher-licht.html |url-status=live }}
Book
- {{cite book | title=What I Learned When I Almost Died: How a Maniac TV Producer Put Down His BlackBerry and Started to Live His Life| url= https://archive.org/details/whatilearnedwhen0000lich |year=2011 | publisher=Simon & Schuster | location=New York | isbn=978-1451627671}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons}}
- {{IMDb name|1469851}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20220226220941/https://www.viacomcbspressexpress.com/cbs-studios/executives/view?id=1282 Biography] at Viacom CBS (via Archive.org)
- [https://anchor.fm/cuseconversations/episodes/Chris-Licht-93-News--Entertainment-Power-Producer-enj1uv Licht on 'Cuse Conversations Podcast in 2020]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Licht, Chris}}
Category:American television news producers
Category:People from Newtown, Connecticut
Category:Primetime Emmy Award winners
Category:S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications alumni