Today’s internal memo:
To: CNN Staff // From: Jim Walton // RE: Eason Jordan
“Our colleague Eason Jordan tendered his resignation today. He leaves his post as executive vice president and chief news executive effective immediately. From his first day with CNN, in 1982, as assistant assignment editor on the national desk, Eason has served CNN and the pursuit of journalism with distinction. CNN’s global newsgathering infrastructure is largely his vision and achievement. Under his leadership, the News Group literally circled the globe with bureaus, from Baghdad to Johannesburg to Havana to Sydney to Hong Kong. The regard in which he is held by people from every walk of life in virtually every corner of the world has added incalculably to our ability to cover such historic events as the Gulf War and the war in Iraq, the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe, the crackdown in Tiananmen Square and the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. And his passion for our profession has been recognized with its highest honors-Emmy, Peabody and duPont awards, as well as the first-ever Charles Weltner Freedom of Information Award. Eason’s service to CNN and support of the people at every level of our organization is legend. He leaves us with our gratitude, respect and best wishes.”
> Here’s the AP write-up…