Fox fires Zahn; CNN hires her

In an unprecedented action, Fox News Channel abruptly fired its high-profile anchor Paula Zahn Wednesday, accusing her of an “unscrupulous” breach of contract for allegedly lining up a deal with CNN before the expiration of her current one with Fox. A statement issued by Zahn’s publicists maintained that CNN had made her an offer that was “subject to her availability and contractual obligations” and that she had “honored her contract to Fox News Channel.” CNN immediately welcomed Zahn, who is expected to anchor a new morning show from New York. (She had cohosted CBS This Morning from 1990 to 1997.) CNN Chairman Walter Isaacson told Electronic Media magazine that reports that she had been lured to the news network with a $2-million-a-year offer were “exaggerated a bit.” Isaacson added that he was “thrilled” that Zahn would be joining CNN. “She’s smart. She’s fun. She wants to come to CNN.”