After earlier reports, it seems that when Bari Weiss was named editor-in-chief of CBS News, Wikipedia editors responded by slanting her page negatively. They attempted to label Weiss as a right-leaning and biased editor, particularly regarding CBS’s settlement with Donald Trump. There were even suggestions of potentially blacklisting CBS as a source moving forward.
Weiss’s appointment was first announced on October 2, with the official confirmation coming four days later. Alongside this, the new parent company, Paramount Skydance, took over Weiss’s Free Press. Weiss had previously been an opinion editor at the New York Times but resigned, citing ongoing issues with her colleagues who she described as radical leftists. While some left-wing journalists at CBS reportedly reacted with unease to her rise, others appreciated her leadership due to her pro-Israel views. CBS has faced various challenges in recent months, heightening concern among its staff.
Shortly after the announcement, Wikipedia editors began tagging Weiss and the Free Press as conservative—even though they identify as centrists. One editor, “Snowkarok,” added claims to her page suggesting she was “anti-trans,” among other labels. Though some were deleted, others were promptly reinserted, maintaining the “anti-trans” characterization based on pro-LGBT media references. Snowkarok also labeled Weiss in the CBS article, asserting that her hiring indicated a rightward shift at the network, which seemed partially accurate. The profile page of this editor has content that implicitly criticizes Trump and refers to an alleged “Nazi salute” claim against Elon Musk. Attempts to label Weiss as conservative were also restored.
Another editor included sections in the Free Press article that mainly critiqued its pro-Israel position, frequently labeling the paper as conservative. A self-identified progressive critic, “Tataral,” described it as a “right-wing internet blog” and even suggested deleting the outlet’s page. However, these changes were also quickly restored, reflecting a struggle over its representation. Tataral has a history of attacking individuals associated with conservative perspectives, including sending derogatory comments about the acting U.S. Attorney who raised concerns about Wikipedia’s bias.
Attempts to undermine both CBS and press freedom continued. One editor claimed the Free Press had falsely reported a crime in Austin, Texas, referring to an investigation under a Democratic district attorney, despite claims of a decrease in crime. Although an article asserted crime numbers had dropped, it also cautioned that serious offenses had risen during the DA’s tenure, noting criticism of a decline in property prosecutions. Another editor accused the news outlet of misrepresenting the Gaza situation, echoing claims mentioned in previous articles.
During edits to the CBS article, significant additions were made concerning a lawsuit filed by Trump against the network, related to manipulative editing of a segment featuring Kamala Harris. This lawsuit was characterized as frivolous by legal experts, according to a CNN article linked in the edits. The practical implications were that the settlement partially stemmed from the merger of Paramount and Skydance; although, the sources cited didn’t explicitly make this connection. Both companies denied such ties, and the expansion did not include these denials, which left some controversial claims about press freedom unaddressed.
Weiss’s appointment also sparked discussions on Wikipedia about reviewing CBS’s credibility as a source, which is central to the platform’s verification standards. During discussions, one editor expressed that CBS journalists seemed panicked about the changes. Currently, CBS is marked as “generally trusted” in Wikipedia’s color-coding system. Conversations about its authenticity have become a way for editors to marginalize conservative news outlets, especially in light of recent scrutiny from various commentators.
Some editors suggested a “wait and see” approach for CBS. Yet, one drew mockery for suggesting a cautious stance, while others felt less hesitant. An editor known as “Monk of Monk Hall” advocated for collecting evidence to potentially downgrade CBS’s credibility, as he believed Weiss’s leadership could impact the network’s trustworthiness. Previous claims made by Monk had included false accusatory narratives. Another editor supplied Monk with evidence against CBS, arguing that since Weiss’s takeover, reporting on press freedom had notably shifted. Others criticized CBS for not being sufficiently critical of Israel and concurrently worked against the free press.
These editorial actions mirror a broader trend among Wikipedia campaigns to blacklist conservative viewpoints. Numerous conservative news outlets have faced slander and calls for censorship, including campaigns against Fox News and Breitbart. As it stands, the Free Press is designated as “barely reliable” on Wikipedia, which has caused disappointment among some users. There’s concern that efforts to further discredit CBS could lead to lawsuits against the network itself.
Concerns regarding Wikipedia’s apparent biases have prompted inquiries from the House Oversight Committee, including questions about possible anti-Israel prejudice. Recently, Senator Ted Cruz has specifically raised questions regarding Wikipedia’s sourcing practices, acknowledging its significant influence over information access and lamenting its growing biases.
TD Adler has edited Wikipedia as “The Devil’s Advocate,” though he was banned after reporting a conflict of interest by one of the platform’s administrators. He now uses a pseudonym due to previous campaigns against his critics.
