CBS News Faces Internal Uproar Following Bari Weiss’s Appointment
In a surprising twist that makes other news headlines seem minor, yesterday’s events at CBS took a dramatic turn. Since Bari Weiss became the editor-in-chief, she has faced backlash from various journalists and commentators, especially those leaning left, who perceive her as a staunch conservative. That characterization seems a bit off, and while I’ve defended her often, some of her early decisions have raised eyebrows, particularly for someone new to television.
Amid President Donald Trump’s recent decision to scrap a controversial $1.8 billion fund designed to combat weaponization—a move that garnered criticism from both Republicans and Democrats—Weiss has her own pressing issues to address.
To start, she has controversially dismissed two correspondents from “60 Minutes,” Cecilia Vega and Sharyn Alfonsi, along with executive producer Tanya Simon. There was considerable tension concerning a story on an El Salvador prison, which failed to air due to the absence of Trump officials during its launch.
The show’s ratings have been a point of concern, especially under anchor Tony Dokoupil’s leadership, though it’s unfair to place all the blame on him. CBS also faced difficulties obtaining a visa for Trump to cover his visit to Beijing; he ended up reporting from Taiwan instead.
Despite these challenges, “60 Minutes,” once CBS’s standout program, has maintained impressive viewership, averaging around 9.1 million listeners—up 9% from the last season—and generating substantial advertising revenue. However, with Weiss’s leadership, there are whispers of change that some find unsettling.
One big misstep, in my opinion, was her decision to hire Nick Bilton, a technology journalist, to lead the news magazine. Although he has credentials from places like the New York Times and Vanity Fair, he lacks broadcasting experience, which some view as a significant drawback in this context.
Bilton has indicated that bringing new faces into CBS might not fundamentally alter the show’s direction. He mentioned, “If you don’t disrupt, you’re going to disrupt yourself.” Yet, some staff members are clearly feeling the impact of these changes.
During a recent staff meeting, Scott Pelley, a longstanding member of the “60 Minutes” team, voiced strong opposition to Weiss’s management. He remarked, “She’s killing 60 Minutes,” suggesting she was brought in for the very purpose of dismantling its legacy.
This sentiment resonated within the team, as Pelley continued to question Weiss’s qualifications and criticized the detrimental effects of her changes on the overall news programming. He wasn’t even close to finished—he pushed further, pointing out that the recent alterations to “Evening News” had been nothing short of catastrophic.
Bilton, for his part, seems eager to foster relationships within the organization, stating he looks forward to meeting everyone—even those who disagree with him. However, Pelley confronted him, questioning why he accepted the role in an environment where he would feel unwelcome.
Adding to the drama, Weiss seemingly chose not to attend this particular meeting. Now, there’s the reality that firing Pelley could brand Weiss as intolerant, unwilling to accept criticism, while keeping him on would mean collaborating with someone openly critical of her leadership.
This internal struggle at CBS, particularly within “60 Minutes,” underscores the ongoing challenges facing the prominent news outlet. The balance of legacy and innovation hangs in the air, and it’s clear this conflict is just beginning.
