Susan Zirinsky will return to CBS News as interim executive editor in response to criticism of “perceived bias” in its news coverage, CBS co-CEO George Cheeks said on Monday.
In a memo to staff, Cheeks wrote: “In today’s fast-moving news environment, it is critical for newsrooms to quickly and effectively deliver balanced, accurate, fair and timely reporting, including highly complex, sensitive issues like the war in the Middle East.
"CBS News takes this responsibility seriously. While there is no way to cover such sensitive issues without provoking some degree of criticism, we have a responsibility to address those concerns. This includes feedback regarding perceived bias in some CBS News coverage. We cannot let this negatively affect our legacy or our future, our mission or our connection to our viewers.”
The network had reprimanded its morning news anchor, Tony Dokoupil, over his handling of an interview with a writer, Ta-Nehisi Coates. Dokoupil challenged Coates’ stance on the war in Gaza and Israel’s treatment of West Bank Palestinians. Network president and CEO Wendy McMahon told the staff that the network had reviewed Dokoupil’s interview and that it had fallen short of network standards. Redstone subsequently publicly disagreed, saying, “They made a mistake here.
CBS has elsewhere been under pressure in recent months over its coverage of the 2024 presidential election and accusations that news magazine “60 Minutes” unfairly edited its interview with Vice President Kamala Harris. The network denied having done so.
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