Has CNN‘s Kasie Hunt found the key to keeping viewers locked in on the news? The anchor of the news network’s late-day program, The Arena, may have cracked the code with the use of “text chain” during her broadcasts.
The goal is to keep viewers from allowing their eyes to drift to a second screen, primarily a smartphone, by mimicking the visual of a text conversation. But instead of getting quick bites of information that isn’t official, they’re getting fed key points from expert journalists. “I think it holds viewers,” Hunt shared in an interview, according to Variety. “You can hear from people who are professional journalists and experts, as opposed to the free-for-all.”
The use of these graphics has been used across various broadcasts, particularly with CNN’s “live analysis” section during coverage of President Donald Trump‘s remarks at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, a Capitol Hill Hearing, Supreme Court oral argument, and much more, with commentary from experts like John Berman, Betsy Klein, and Brian Stelter.
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CNN’s considering placing the text element in other programming as well, including red carpet coverage for awards shows, according to Abigail Crutchfield, the senior vice president of Washington and special events programming, who said, “We are offering our viewers and subscribers an opportunity to get what has sort of traditionally been seen when people are watching other screens.”
The shift to this visual format has come as a survey conducted in 2026 by Pew Research Center reported that over thirty percent of adults under thirty turned to social media first for breaking news events. And while the “text chain” feature may be ushering in a new era of news intake, it’s also reminiscent of past programming formats found on MTV‘s TRL and other titles with younger-skewing audience demos.
Hunt revealed that this new reporting style is something that was inspired by her own process. “I run an email on big nights when I’m reporting on site. I would just be in touch constantly with sources and then share the insights of that group,” Hunt said.
The method was admired by CNN executives, including Crutchfield. “She has so many sources who could not be in studio every day. How do we bring that to the flow?” And that’s where the “text chain” idea comes in. “It gives them another way to get deeper analysis than we could offer in a chyron or a banner,” Crutchfield added.
Hunt added, “I’m a big believer that viewers really connect with people they see often. They get very specific feedback when they are on ‘text chain.’ People see what they are writing, and they will respond directly to an idea or thought, as opposed to when they sit in on set and hear, ‘Oh, I saw you on TV.’ I think a lot of people are surprised by the level of reaction they receive.”
While the format is meant to keep viewers’ eyes on the one TV screen, they shouldn’t expect freewheeling commentary they’d get on social media. “This is different from social media, or expressions in viewer comments, where you’re getting everyone’s opinion and is more unfiltered,” Crutchfield explained. “We are really focused on what matches our brand better, that expert context and analysis. We are trying to curate the room, and it’s really about the people who cover the subject, a lawyer, if that’s necessary, or a White House reporter. It’s people who have knowledge.”
It may be “early days” with this format, but Hunt added, “In an era where we get an incredible volume of information with fewer tools to sort through whether that information is true and what is not,” this is meant to keep viewers informed through “trusted” reporting.