CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss is reportedly planning to ask Paramount’s CEO, David Ellison, to honor “editorial independence.” However, some former staff believe she’s simply fulfilling the role she was hired for.
Weiss, selected by Ellison and known for her contentious viewpoints on the public’s trust in CBS and mainstream media, made headlines recently when she chose to delay a “60 Minutes” segment focused on Donald Trump’s deportation to an El Salvadoran prison called CECOT.
Just hours before the episode aired, “60 Minutes” announced the postponement, citing the need for “additional coverage.” This decision frustrated many, including correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi, who accused Weiss of political motivations behind the delay.
A report from the New York Post indicated that former CBS News employees are preparing to petition Ellison to uphold CBS’s “editorial independence.” They plan to submit the petition on January 3, arguing that Weiss’s actions indicate a failure in editorial oversight and pose a risk to press freedom in the U.S.
One former CBS reporter isn’t convinced the petition will change anything. They remarked, “I don’t think it will have much of an impact on Ms. Ellison, because I think he hired her to do exactly what she’s doing.” This perspective suggests a lack of concern about the method Weiss is taking, despite its contentious nature.
The same former staff member advised that a personal meeting with Weiss might be worthwhile, possibly serving as a town hall that could influence her decisions.
Both CBS News and Paramount did not respond to requests for comment regarding the situation.
In August, Ellison formally took charge of Paramount, recently dubbed “Paramount, a Skydance Company,” and appointed Weiss as the head of CBS News, acquiring her project, The Free Press, for $150 million in the process.
Weiss described the interview explaining her decision to delay the segment as “powerful,” but concluded that the story wasn’t “moving forward” and wasn’t “ready.” Her memo also encouraged reaching out to Trump administration officials for on-camera engagement regarding immigration policies and critiqued specific aspects of the footage, especially segments featuring students discussing prisons.
Despite the story being shelved, some portions leaked online didn’t include significant statements from Trump officials, except for brief clips that failed to provide substantial context.
