CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss has announced a new strategy aimed at reversing the network’s declining audience and broadening its political appeal amid internal and external criticism. Weiss, who was appointed in October 2025 after Paramount Skydance acquired her media venture The Free Press, outlined plans in an all-hands meeting that include hiring about 18 new commentators, including conservative and controversial figures, and making significant newsroom cuts for staff who don’t align with her vision.
Weiss stressed that CBS must expand beyond traditional broadcast news to digital and podcast formats or risk continued losses, saying the network’s current strategy could leave it “toast.” The new hire slate is intended to diversify voices and compete with cable news outlets.
These changes come against a backdrop of viewership challenges: a high-profile town hall moderated by CBS saw a notable ratings decline, and the relaunched CBS Evening News has lost more than a million viewers compared with the prior year. Critics have linked these ratings struggles and editorial decisions, including the delayed airing of a 60 Minutes report to Weiss’s leadership.
The strategy also reflects broader corporate dynamics. Paramount Skydance is pursuing hostile takeover bids for Warner Bros. Discovery (parent of CNN), intensifying scrutiny of CBS News’s positioning and editorial choices.
Summary:
CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss has announced a new strategy aimed at reversing the network’s declining audience and broadening its political appeal amid internal and external criticism. Weiss, who was appointed in October 2025 after Paramount Skydance acquired her media venture The Free Press, outlined plans in an all-hands meeting that include hiring about 18 new commentators, including conservative and controversial figures, and making significant newsroom cuts for staff who don’t align with her vision.
Weiss stressed that CBS must expand beyond traditional broadcast news to digital and podcast formats or risk continued losses, saying the network’s current strategy could leave it “toast.” The new hire slate is intended to diversify voices and compete with cable news outlets.
These changes come against a backdrop of viewership challenges: a high-profile town hall moderated by CBS saw a notable ratings decline, and the relaunched CBS Evening News has lost more than a million viewers compared with the prior year. Critics have linked these ratings struggles and editorial decisions, including the delayed airing of a 60 Minutes report to Weiss’s leadership.
The strategy also reflects broader corporate dynamics. Paramount Skydance is pursuing hostile takeover bids for Warner Bros. Discovery (parent of CNN), intensifying scrutiny of CBS News’s positioning and editorial choices.