Paula Reid is preparing to exit CNN as its chief legal affairs correspondent and is expected to join MS NOW, according to multiple people familiar with the plans. The move comes as MS NOW expands its newsroom after separating from Comcast, positioning the outlet to attract high-profile talent amid a shifting cable news landscape. An MS NOW spokesperson declined to comment on personnel matters but described Reid as “an exceptional reporter” that any news organization would be fortunate to have.
Reid’s anticipated departure arrives just as Paramount’s planned acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery creates uncertainty about CNN’s future direction and leadership under new ownership. Her current contract is also set to expire, adding timing pressure to the decision. Status first reported her preparations to leave CNN, while Variety first detailed the expected move to MS NOW.
Reid joined CNN from CBS News in 2021 as a senior legal affairs correspondent and rose to the chief role in 2023. At CBS she covered the White House and Justice Department, including extensive reporting on Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and related legal developments.
The broader media industry is undergoing major realignment. Paramount CEO David Ellison has publicly stated support for CNN’s editorial independence, yet questions persist inside the network about potential changes once the deal closes. At CBS News, Ellison appointed Bari Weiss, founder of The Free Press, as editor in chief; she has since overseen a revamp of the CBS Evening News and leadership shifts at 60 Minutes, including the departures of several prominent correspondents.
CNN has already seen other recent exits. Anchor Rahel Solomon announced on air in April that she was leaving the network after hosting the early-morning program “Early Start.” Solomon, who joined CNN in 2022 from CNBC and returned from maternity leave late last year, said she looked forward to her next chapter while expressing support for her colleagues.
These talent moves highlight ongoing competition for experienced legal and political journalists as ownership changes and audience habits evolve across traditional cable and digital platforms. Viewers and industry observers are watching closely to see how the shifts at CNN, MS NOW, and CBS reshape coverage of major legal and political stories in the months ahead.