New Path For CBS News

Bari Weiss

CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss addressed staff in a highly anticipated all-hands town hall on Tuesday, acknowledging a turbulent start to her tenure while outlining an aggressive overhaul to revive the network's relevance in a rapidly changing media landscape.

The meeting, held amid ongoing internal friction and declining viewership, saw Weiss confront criticism head-on. She admitted to mishandling the timing of her decision to hold a "60 Minutes" segment on Venezuelan migrants sent to El Salvador's CECOT prison, calling the last-minute disruption a "logistical nightmare" that won't repeat, though she defended the broader choice to delay for more reporting and balance.

Weiss delivered a blunt assessment of CBS News' current state: "The honest truth is, right now, we are not producing a product that enough people want." She warned that clinging to traditional linear broadcast television would doom the network—"If we stick to that strategy, we’re toast"—and called for a shift to a "streaming mentality," emphasizing audience share over ratings, digital expansion via podcasts, newsletters, and talent-driven brands.

Key initiatives she announced include:

• Hiring 19 new contributors, drawing from diverse fields like health, science, fashion, and commentary—many with ties to her former outlet, The Free Press—to broaden perspectives and add "scoops" and provocative storytelling.
• Plans for staffing adjustments and cuts to align with her vision of a "fit for purpose" 21st-century news division, treating CBS News as "the best capitalized startup in the world."
• A push for "revelatory journalism" that reflects America's "political friction," encourages diverse ideas without consensus-driven caution, and rebuilds public trust through fairness and truth-seeking.

Weiss rejected claims of turning CBS into a "right-wing network," insisting coverage speaks for itself and positioning the outlet for the "center, center-right, and center-left."  She vowed not to be a "mouthpiece for anybody" and emphasized earning trust through results, not demands.

CBS News CEO Wendy Weiss fielded questions on a wide range of issues, including the network’s ongoing cost-cutting initiatives and the possibility of layoffs. 

Paramount Global has been aggressively pursuing major expense reductions across its divisions.

Weiss acknowledged potential workforce changes, describing them as a possible “transformation of our workforce,” while also emphasizing that CBS continues to hire in key areas.

“CBS Mornings” co-host Gayle King voiced clear frustration about the persistent gossip and speculation surrounding the network since Weiss took the helm. “We’ve all been walking around with gasoline on our pants,” she said, capturing the tense atmosphere many staffers have felt amid the rumors.

King, whose contract expires later this year and who has faced ongoing speculation about her future at CBS, praised Weiss for articulating a clear vision for the network.

She also sharply criticized staff members who have been leaking internal discussions to the press. King stressed that employees should be able to speak candidly in meetings without those conversations immediately appearing in other outlets. “I am so sick of that,” she declared.

In response to a separate question, Weiss offered strong reassurance about King’s standing, calling her “beloved” within CBS and stating that she envisions a long and continuing future for the veteran anchor at the network.