Wendy McMahon Resigns as CBS News CEO
Wendy McMahon, who led CBS News, stepped down on Monday amid significant turmoil, including a $20 billion lawsuit that reportedly played a role in causing President Trump to hold up Paramount’s $8 billion merger.
Taking on the role of CEO for CBS News and its branches in 2023, McMahon was vocal against the resolution of a lawsuit involving a “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris during the presidential campaign, which Trump felt had been edited to favor her.
“It’s evident that the direction of the company and myself are misaligned,” she noted in a memo to staff who were reportedly taken aback by the news.
George Cheeks, CBS’s top executive and one of three leaders awaiting merger approval from the FCC, indicated that McMahon made the choice to “resign.” He mentioned she would stay with the network for a transitional period.
In a farewell note, McMahon expressed gratitude to Cheeks for the opportunity.
Cheeks had requested her resignation during a meeting on Saturday, as reported.
Her time leading CBS News was complicated by issues such as a fraught attempt at restructuring evening news, declining ratings for both nighttime and morning broadcasts, and strife regarding editorial guidelines.
“This was somewhat expected, just not at this moment,” commented a source familiar with the situation. “It’s not merely about ratings but rather the essence of journalism.”
Shari Redstone, Paramount’s major shareholder, had been in favor of McMahon’s departure and encouraged her to settle the ongoing legal dispute.
According to reports, Jeff Shell, an executive from Skydance, had reservations about McMahon’s capability to lead the newsroom effectively.
“With new heads coming in to make changes, it seems logical for Wendy to exit now,” shared an insider.
Another insider noted that her departure might prompt quicker resolution in Trump’s lawsuits.
McMahon had made controversial decisions, including the dismissal of “CBS Evening News” anchor Norah O’Donnell and shifting the format that had struggled to address significant news events.
The ratings for evening newscasts have been disappointing, with viewership averaging below 4 million.
During significant moments like Pope Francis’s death and the election of Pope Leo XIV, the network’s coverage had been less than stellar.
On the morning program, co-hosted by Gale King, Tony Dokoupil, and Nate Burleson, numbers also lagged at under 2 million viewers, trailing competitors like ABC’s “GMA” and NBC’s “Today.”
Morale within the newsroom reportedly hit a low point after McMahon and top executive Aidianne Roark faced backlash for comments made during an interview about the Israeli-Hamas conflict, raising flags about editorial independence.
Redstone had directly criticized McMahon over management decisions, including her treatment of Dokoupil.
Roark, a close ally of McMahon, announced her resignation shortly before McMahon’s removal and is expected to take a senior position elsewhere.
A source close to the executives remarked, “The news department is in disarray; there are serious questions about news judgment and fairness.”
Cheeks’ memo indicated that McMahon’s responsibilities would be assumed by Tom Cibrowski and CBS Stations president Jennifer Mitchell.
McMahon joined CBS News in 2021 as co-chair with Neeraj Khemlani, eventually gaining even more authority after Khemlani’s dismissal in 2023, having previously been in charge of local TV stations and streaming at ABC.
She reflected in her farewell, “Leading this remarkable organization has been a unique honor. We must uphold our dedication to truth, fairness, and the highest standards.”
