CBS News is offering voluntary buyouts to non-unionized staffers on its CBS Evening News program, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. The move signals an aggressive push to overhaul the broadcast under new anchor Tony Dokoupil and amid Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss's broader vision to reshape the network's direction and reverse declining viewership.
The buyout offers were communicated to staff on Wednesday, just one day after Weiss outlined her editorial blueprint in a staff town hall meeting. They follow a Tuesday NPR report indicating that Weiss planned to implement staff reductions at CBS News in the coming weeks as part of efforts to streamline operations and refocus coverage.
Details remain limited: It is unclear exactly how many staffers received the offers, the specific terms of the packages (such as severance amounts or benefits), or the deadline for acceptance. CBS News declined to comment on the matter.
Weiss's vision, presented Tuesday, emphasizes adapting to modern media realities: producing content that audiences actually want, expanding the network's digital and streaming presence, adding paid commentators (around 19, per some reports), reducing emphasis on traditional segments, and prioritizing high-impact journalism over certain legacy practices. She has pushed back against perceptions of bias or external pressures, framing the changes as necessary to grow viewership and relevance in a competitive landscape.
The voluntary separations reflect a strategic effort to align staff with the new mission without forced layoffs while allowing those uninterested in the revamped direction to exit on amicable terms.