Bari Weiss, the founder of The Free Press and newly appointed editor-in-chief of CBS News, made her first address to the network's staff during their regular 9 a.m. morning call Tuesday.
This came just days after Paramount Global announced a $100 million partnership with The Free Press, effectively placing Weiss in charge of CBS News editorial operations as part of a broader merger and restructuring under new ownership from Skydance Media. The move has been hailed by some as a bold push for "fair, fearless, and factual" journalism but criticized by others as a polarizing "grenade" in an already tense newsroom.
According to reports from media insiders, Weiss's remarks were direct, motivational, and unapologetically candid—setting a tone that blended competitive drive with a no-nonsense call to action.
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| Bari Weiss |
✔Focus on "Winning" and Restoring Trust: Weiss opened by emphasizing her desire to "win," framing it as essential to rebuilding public confidence in CBS News. She argued that victory requires "restoring trust to CBS," a nod to recent scandals like the network's handling of a Kamala Harris interview and broader accusations of bias. In a smaller executive meeting the day before (October 6), she reportedly told leaders, "I love to win," underscoring her competitive mindset.
✔Excitement About Collaboration: She expressed enthusiasm for CBS staff to engage with The Free Press's model, which prioritizes independent, heterodox journalism over traditional media echo chambers. This aligns with her background: Weiss left The New York Times in 2020 amid clashes over what she called an "illiberal environment," and The Free Press has since built a subscriber base of over 500,000 with stories challenging progressive orthodoxies on topics like campus protests and Israel-Gaza coverage.
✔The Closer: "Let's Do the F#cking News": Wrapping up, Weiss ended on a raw, expletive-laced rallying cry: "Let's do the f#cking news." The line, described as both energizing and eyebrow-raising, went viral on X (formerly Twitter), drawing praise from supporters like Megyn Kelly ("Go get ‘em B") and mockery from critics who saw it as performative bravado in a legacy media giant struggling with declining viewership.
Weiss' lack of TV experience (she's a print/digital veteran) adds intrigue—will she revive CBS's prestige or amplify divisions? Early signs suggest she's leaning into the fight: Her first internal memo reiterated a commitment to journalism that's "fair, fearless, and factual," echoing her Free Press ethos. As one X observer put it, "real news... is absolutely brutal. This will be interesting."