Chris Licht, who is a little more than a month into his term as head of CNN, made his intention obvious during a conference call on Tuesday, Mediaite reported Wednesday.
The report stressed it was not an order. Rather, Licht pressed producers to use “Trump’s election lie” or “election lies” in graphics and banners.
A source told the news outlet that Licht claimed that the use of “the big lie” adopts language preferred by the Democratic Party and hurts the cable news network’s sense of neutrality.
Trump and his allies have claimed widespread fraud and irregularities in the 2020 election, though election officials and the courts have extensively dismissed those claims.
WATCH: NICOLE WALLACE AND THE END OF DEMOCRACY
Licht, previously the showrunner and executive producer of the Late Show with Stephen Colbert, was selected to replace former CNN President Jeff Zucker in February.
This was after Zucker left amid an investigation that uncovered evidence of an affair he had with CNN executive Allison Gollust. Zucker’s resignation came less than two months after CNN anchor Chris Cuomo was fired for helping his brother, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, respond to sexual assault allegations.
EIGHT U.S. NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS TAKE ON AI GIANTS IN BRAZEN LAWSUIT
Licht entered the picture at CNN with reports saying he was keen to dial down partisanship at the network. He had already aimed to make some changes, including one a few weeks ago when he instructed staff to ease up on the use of the “breaking news” banner.
YIKES! IS MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE LOSING HER 'GRIP' IN POWER STRUGGLE?
The term, first used by Adolf Hitler and later used to define Nazi propaganda efforts, was recently embraced by critics of Trump in response to his persistent promotion of the false claim he won the 2020 election.
The term has become popular among CNN staffers. “Big lie” has been cited on the network 168 times this month, according to media monitoring service TVEyes.
WATCH: FETTERMAN CONFRONTED BY A PRO-HAMAS ACTIVIST
The guidance, which comes as a House Select Committee holds hearings examining Trump’s election claims and the January 6 attack on the Capitol they inspired, has angered some at the network.
“It’s worrisome that we’re being told how to talk about one of the worst things that ever happened to American democracy,” a CNN insider told Mediaite. “We have to call lies, lies, whether they’re small lies or big lies. Is there any lie bigger than that lie?”
TESLA IN TURMOIL: MUSK OUSTS TOP EXECS AND PREPARES FOR MASSIVE LAYOFFS, WHAT'S HAPPENING?
They suggested that the directive could be coming from Warner Bros. Discovery board member John Malone, who has criticized CNN’s approach to news under former boss Zucker.
“It seems to indicate where things are headed,” they added. “We didn’t have this problem until John Malone was sitting on the board of this company.”
Discover alternative ideas that will make you think
Engage in mind bending debate
Earn points, rise in rank, have fun
