Changes at CBS News Under Bari Weiss
Bari Weiss, the Editor-in-Chief of CBS News, is reportedly gearing up for significant transformations within the network. Her aim? To reduce perceived left-wing bias and improve overall efficiency in the newsroom.
Appointed by David Ellison, the CEO of CBS News’ parent company Paramount Skydance, Weiss has a clear directive. Ellison envisions “news that reflects reality” and journalism that “seeks to understand, not demonize,” as noted by the Wall Street Journal.
During a meeting, Weiss allegedly expressed her intent with a bold statement: “I want to blow things up.” You can almost picture the room’s reaction—perhaps a mix of excitement and nervousness.
Interestingly, while hiring, Weiss reached out to potential candidates personally, stepping away from the usual agent-mediated approach. This hands-on effort reflects her commitment to reviving the network’s reputation and paving the way for lasting reforms.
Her primary focus seems to be the CBS Evening News, which has consistently lagged behind rivals ABC and NBC in viewership. Typically, the CBS Evening News attracts around 4 million viewers, far less than the approximately 7.2 million and 6.6 million that NBC Nightly News and ABC World News Tonight usually draw, respectively. These numbers, particularly in the coveted 25-54 demographic, highlight the challenges Weiss faces.
In another development, John Dickerson, the current host of CBS Evening News, announced that he will depart from the network in January. Weiss is reportedly eyeing potential replacements, including CNN’s Anderson Cooper and Fox News’ Bret Baier. However, Baier intends to stay with Fox for now, given that his contract extends until late 2028. Meanwhile, rumors suggest Cooper is not interested in the CBS position.
As for CBS Morning host Gayle King, her contract lasts until early 2026, but Weiss might explore less expensive options to replace her substantial $15 million salary.
It’s worth noting that the average age of CBS News viewers is about 58 years, according to Pew Research. This demographic reality could be influencing some of Weiss’s strategies.
Upon assuming her role in October, Weiss requested feedback from her team on how to make CBS News the most trusted news organization. She’s acknowledged that if public backlash had worried her, perhaps she should have “thrown in the towel a long time ago.”
Weiss’s arrival came amid substantial layoffs at Paramount, with around 100 CBS News staffers let go, marking part of a broader reduction affecting about 1,000 employees across the company. Notably, the CBS News race and culture division, established in 2020, has been entirely cut.
