Concerns Within CBS News Over Bari Weiss’s Leadership
In a recent statement, Paramount has firmly rejected claims suggesting that Bari Weiss might lose her authority. This comes amidst rising tensions in the network’s news division regarding CBS News broadcasts.
On Tuesday, the company asserted that Weiss has the “full support” of David Ellison, president of Paramount and Skydance. This statement followed reports that executives were considering limiting her oversight of key shows like “60 Minutes,” “CBS Evening News,” and “CBS Morning.”
“Mr. Bari has the full support of Paramount and David Ellison as editorial leader of CBS News and 60 Minutes,” a spokesperson said.
It was specified that reports to the contrary are incorrect. When the Post inquired if the company was explicitly denying discussions about Weiss stepping back from major CBS News programs, Chief Communications Officer Melissa Zukerman responded directly, saying, “Yes, we deny it and Pack’s report is false.”
This denial emerged after reports indicated network executives were re-evaluating Weiss’ responsibilities due to rising internal dissent and concerns over her management style.
Discussions reportedly included curtailing Weiss’ direct influence on traditional TV operations while pivoting towards digital strategy and broader editorial focus. There are whispers among executives suggesting that Weiss’s role may be excessively broad, especially given her lack of experience in traditional television management.
Insiders at CBS News and “60 Minutes” are particularly worried, suggesting that Weiss is “grossly overstretching” her capacity to meet the demands of the network.
As scrutiny of Weiss ramps up, tensions within “60 Minutes” have escalated, with staff increasingly alert to what they view as an unusual degree of editorial interference in the iconic news magazine’s operations.
After being appointed to lead CBS News by David Ellison, Weiss’s tenure has been shadowed by controversy. Recently, Anderson Cooper’s announcement to leave “60 Minutes” after nearly two decades added to the unease surrounding her leadership.
Although Cooper cited wanting to spend more time with his family, reports indicate he was also uncomfortable with Weiss’s editorial approach and the broader direction of the network.
In a farewell speech, Cooper emphasized that maintaining “independence” was vital to “60 Minutes'” success, hinting at deeper internal conflicts.
Weiss faced criticism for various editorial decisions, including the delayed airing of Sharyn Alfonsi’s segment about Venezuelan deportees and opting to grant an interview with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to CBS correspondent Major Garrett instead of veteran journalist Leslie Stahl.
Furthermore, Weiss’s efforts to revamp the CBS Evening News, led by Tony Dokoupil, have struggled with ratings and faced further embarrassment when Dokoupil had to anchor from Taiwan instead of Beijing due to visa issues for a summit involving President Biden and Xi Jinping. Adding to the chaos, a cameraman collapsed during a live broadcast, prompting an unexpected interruption to seek medical assistance.
