Lou Dobbs Quits CNN

Lou Dobbs has announced on his show that he is to leave the network with immediate effect with tonight's programme being his last. Dobbs, who joined CNN at the very beginning, contract was not set to expire until the end of 2011.

He said;

This will be my last broadcast here on CNN, where I’ve worked for most of the past 30 years, and where I have many friends and colleagues whom I admire deeply and respect greatly.

I’m the last of the original anchors here on CNN and I’m proud to have had the privilege to helping to build the world’s first news network.

I’m grateful for the many opportunities that CNN has given me over these many years. I’ve tried to reciprocate with a full measure of my ability and my energy.

Over the past six months it’s become increasingly clear that strong winds of change have begun buffeting this country and affecting all of us, and some leaders in media, politics and business have been urging me to go beyond the role here at CNN and to engage in constructive problem solving as well as to contribute positively to the great understanding of the issues of our day. And to continue to do so in the most honest and direct language possible.

I’ve talked extensively with Jonathan Klein — Jon’s the president of CNN — and as a result of those talks, Jon and i have agreed to a release from my contract that will enable me to pursue new opportunities.

At this point, I’m considering a number of options and directions, and I assure you, I will let you know when I set my course. I truly believe that the major issues of our time include the growth of our middle class, the creation of more jobs, health care, immigration policy, the environment, climate change, and our military involvement, of course, in Afghanistan and Iraq.

But each of those issues is, in my opinion, informed by our capacity to demonstrate strong resilience of our now weakened capitalist economy and demonstrate the political will to overcome the lack of true representation in Washington, D.C.

I believe these to be profoundly, critically important issues, and I will continue to strive to deal honestly and straightforwardly with those issues in the future.

Unfortunately, these issues are now defined in the public arena by partisanship and ideology rather than by rigorous, empirical thought and forthright analysis and discussion. I’ll be working diligently to change that as best i can. And as for the important work of restoring inspiration to our great free society and our market economy, I will strive as well to be a leader in that national conversation.

It’s been my great honor to work with each and every person at this wonderful network. I will be eternally grateful to CNN, to Ted Turner, and to all of my colleagues and friends, and of course to you at home. I thank you, and may God bless you.

There has been intense speculation that Dobbs could be heading to the Fox Business Network over recent weeks, but nothing has been announced. Lou Dobbs has been tipped with a move to the ratings starved Fox News business spin off, Fox Business Network since meeting several times with its chief, Roger Ailes. We reported at the end of August, that there is a considerable amount of potential in a move to FBN from CNN, following a summer of discontent at CNN and media watchers over the "birthers" debate in which Dobbs questioned whether President Obama was born in America or not.

The New York Times' Brian Stelter also reports that CNN employees do not know if he'll be moving to another network either. It is common knowledge however that Dobbs has been focusing on his radio show in recent months, and a lot of his time is likely to be spent developing that format.

One thing is for certain, as we commented at the end of August, Dobbs has a pedigree in business reporting, and not political commentary. A move to the Fox Business Network would certainly allow him to once again excel at his subject of expertise, and would without doubt give more credence to the argument that Fox Business Network could hold on to audiences delivered by Don Imus.