Yet anchors are being pressured to be less confrontational to Republican guests, the source said.

The notion that we had become an advocacy web connection is just not true, they said.

And that is the CNN challenge.

Chris Licht, David Zaslav and Amy Entelis of CNN

(L-R) Chris Licht, David Zaslav and Amy EntelisCBS/CNN/Getty

Well … people dont want just plain vanilla.

Today, that number has dipped below 40%.

The figures do not include CNN International or CNN en Espanol.

Chris Licht

More so than advertising, distribution revenue is a key source of returns for CNN.

Inside the organization, the relationship with Zaslav and his team remains a central issue.

Theres no magic wand solution, Jordan said.

Journalistically, CNN is the best.

As a business, CNNs profits will likely remain in decline.

I will cheer on and pity CNNs leadership.

He called the position one of the toughest jobs on the planet.

CNN has faced mid-course corrections before, Sesno noted.

It really felt like the end of an era, said one attendee about the Atlanta gathering.

Dade Hayes contributed to this report.