CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss presented a bold vision lasr week to revitalize the struggling broadcaster, emphasizing commentator hires, digital expansion, and cross-platform "stars" to attract younger and independent viewers—drawing mixed reactions from staff.
Three months into her tenure, Weiss outlined plans to add 19 new commentators (including some from her former outlet, The Free Press), launch podcasts, newsletters, and live events, and shift toward a "streaming mentality" that starts stories on digital platforms before moving to TV.
She highlighted building multi-platform personalities, using New York Times columnist and CNBC host Andrew Ross Sorkin as an example—jokingly termed "Sorkining"—and stressed reflecting America's political "friction" to appeal to audiences who feel unrepresented in mainstream media.
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| Bari Weiss |
Some employees felt energized by the focus on digital transformation and broader voices, while others—citing seven current and former staff and industry insiders—worried it conflicts with the network's core mission of objective journalism in a post-Walter Cronkite era. Critics likened chasing "stars" like Sorkin to an unrealistic Hollywood fantasy, noting TV has long created icons such as Dan Rather, Connie Chung, Katie Couric, and Cronkite himself.
Weiss, 41, with no prior broadcast experience and described by some sources as a distant leader, faces a tough challenge: reversing audience declines that have plagued broadcast and cable executives, including ousted former CNN chief Chris Licht. Supporters compare her to Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham, who overcame early skepticism to transform her paper during its Watergate heyday.
One current staffer told Reuters: "People are saying, 'Let's give her a chance' ... I want to see her succeed. If she succeeds, we all succeed."