Campbell Brown is leaving CNN, where she hosts the ratings-challenged 8PM program bearing her name.
"Of course I pay attention to ratings," Brown said in a statement. "And simply put, the ratings for my program are not where I would like them to be. It is largely for this reason that I am stepping down as anchor of CNN's 'Campbell Brown.'"
"To be clear: this is my decision, and one that I have been thinking about for some time," she continued. "As for why, I could have said, that I am stepping down to spend more time with my children (which I truly want to do). Or that I am leaving to pursue other opportunities (which I also truly want to do). But I have never had much tolerance for others' spin, so I can't imagine trying to stomach my own. The simple fact is that not enough people want to watch my program, and I owe it to myself and to CNN to get out of the way so that CNN can try something else. CNN will have to figure out what that is."
"Today is about Campbell," CNN/US President Jon Klein said in a separate statement. "We want to wish her well as she begins the next phase of her life. We respect her decision to leave. We will announce our programming plans in the coming weeks."
Mediaite reported earlier Tuesday that Brown had asked to be released from her contract and that CNN had granted her request.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/18/campbell-brown-leaving-cn_n_580999.html
