The executive producer of CNN’s “The Source With Kaitlan Collins,” has announced her departure from the network — citing “brutal” working hours that had been “taking a toll” on her, according to a report.
Kristin Donnelly, a veteran television producer who worked at NBC News prior to joining Warner Bros. Discovery-owned CNN in 2017, surprised colleagues with her abrupt resignation, according to Oliver Darcy’s Status newsletter.
The change comes as Collins juggles her roles as both a prime time anchor as well as the chief White House correspondent — a dual title that earns her a reported $3 million annual salary.
After President Donald Trump won the election, TV news observers speculated that CNN boss Mark Thompson, who is looking to cut costs, was eager to move Collins back to Washington, DC, to cover the administration and to get her out of the anchor chair, where she has struggled to amass a wider audience.
Donnelly’s exit was communicated internally on Thursday. In a note to some colleagues, she acknowledged that the show’s demanding schedule had taken a toll, describing the hours as “brutal,” according to Status.
The Post has sought comment from Donnelly.
Donnelly was brought to CNN for her expertise in managing high-profile news shows — making her a key figure in the development of “The Source,” which launched in 2023 as part of CNN’s effort to establish a more competitive prime time lineup.
Before joining “The Source,” she held key production roles at CNN, including “Inside Politics with John King” and “The Lead with Jake Tapper.” She previously covered the White House for NBC News.
Her departure comes at a time of major upheaval for CNN, as the network struggles with declining ratings and ongoing leadership changes.
Over the past few years, CNN has faced mounting competition from both traditional rivals like Fox News and MSNBC and an increasingly fragmented digital media landscape.
Viewership has fluctuated, particularly in prime time, leading to a series of programming overhauls aimed at recapturing audience interest.
Last week, Collins’ show was the most-watched CNN prime time show in the advertiser-coveted 25-54 age demographic, according to Nielsen figures.
In the week ending Feb. 21, Collins’ show drew an average of 119,000 viewers in the 25-54 demographic — though it still lagged behind competitors such as Fox News’ “Hannity,” which was most watched, and second-place Rachel Maddow of MSNBC.
But in overall viewers, Collins is a distant third behind both Hannity (2.786 million) and Maddow (1.726 million), according to the Nielsen numbers.
On a positive note for CNN, its prime time lineup scored in second place in the 25-54 demo for the week — powered by Erin Burnett’s “Outfront,” Anderson Cooper and Abby Phillip — all of whom bested their competitors at MSNBC.
In total viewers, however, CNN is far behind both Fox News and MSNBC, according to Nielsen figures.
For the week ending Feb. 21, Fox News drew a total of 3.252 million viewers on average in prime time while MSNBC came in second with 1.221 million viewers. CNN’s overall viewership averaged just 588,000 in prime time for the week, according to Nielsen.
Fox News shares common ownership with The Post.
CNN’s recent struggles have been compounded by internal shake-ups.
Thompson, who took over as the network’s CEO in 2023 after stints helming the BBC and the New York Times, has been implementing a series of changes including layoffs as part of a shift in emphasis toward digital and streaming content while attempting to revitalize CNN’s prime time schedule.
“The Source With Kaitlan Collins,” which positions Collins as a key player in the network’s future, aimed to blend hard news and in-depth analysis, catering to an audience looking for authoritative reporting in a fast-moving news cycle.
The show remains a central piece of CNN’s attempt to reinvigorate its prime time lineup, and Donnelly’s departure marks another transition in a network still finding its footing in an increasingly competitive media environment.
A CNN spokesperson declined to comment.
