Bari Weiss Makes Strategic Move at CBS News
Bari Weiss has made headlines again at CBS News, quietly bringing in former ABC News correspondent Matt Gutman for a potential anchor role at CBS Evening News.
At 47, Gutman is known as a national correspondent for ABC, with a reputation as a seasoned field reporter, particularly for covering international crises over many years in the Middle East.
Even though he lacks formal anchoring experience, Weiss’s decision to have him as the face of CBS’s flagship news program is quite unexpected. This choice reflects her distinctive approach since she took the reins as editor-in-chief last month, as noted in the Status Newsletter.
However, reports suggest Gutman’s chances of moving to CBS are slim, given his existing contract with Disney-owned ABC.
Weiss and CBS News President Tom Sibrowski are actively looking for a replacement for John Dickerson, who is anticipated to depart by year’s end.
Since late January, Dickerson has been co-anchoring with Maurice Dubois, taking over from Norah O’Donnell.
The search includes both internal and external candidates. Among the internal options are “CBS Morning” co-anchor Tony Dokoupil and O’Donnell herself.
But Weiss is casting her net wide, reaching out to prominent journalists across Fox News, CNN, and ABC.
Interestingly, Weiss has also made overtures to well-known figures like Bret Baier from Fox and CNN’s Anderson Cooper, both of whom hold significant experience in TV journalism.
In contrast, Gutman has spent his career as a correspondent and has not held a night anchor position before.
Weiss, who was brought on board by CBS’s new owner David Ellison, is already implementing broad changes in the news department, making critical decisions about bookings and contacting producers personally to discuss reporting priorities.
The effort to find a new anchor for “CBS Evening News” seems pivotal to Weiss’s strategy, as this high-profile decision will likely set the tone for her tenure at CBS.
Insiders suggest Weiss’s interest in Gutman may relate to his coverage of Israel, a topic that resonates deeply with her.
Bret Baier, under contract with Fox News until the end of 2028, recently expressed his contentment with his position during a conversation with podcaster Meghan McCain.
Fox News operates under Fox Corp., a sibling company to News Corp, the parent company of The Post.
The Post has reached out to both CBS News and ABC News for comments, but both CNN and Fox News opted not to comment.
