In her first major address to the news division she now leads, Bari Weiss directly confronted the skepticism and uncertainty swirling within CBS News. The newly appointed editor-in-chief told employees that earning their trust, not demanding it, was her immediate priority, framing the network’s future as a critical battle for relevance.
Weiss, who joined CBS last fall following the acquisition of her media company, The Free Press, by Paramount Skydance, presented a stark assessment. She argued the network is currently failing to produce a product that attracts a broad, modern audience and is losing the trust of the public. Her stated mission is a comprehensive transformation to make CBS News “fit for purpose in the 21st century.”
“The strategy until now has been to cling to the audience that remains on broadcast television,” Weiss stated. “I’m here to tell you that if we stick to that strategy, we’re toast.”
Her plan includes a significant expansion of on-air contributors, adding 18 new voices from politics, academia, and culture. The announced names include figures like medical commentator Dr. Mark Hyman, historian Niall Ferguson, and former national security adviser H.R. McMaster. Editorially, Weiss positioned the network as a destination for the political center and center-left and center-right, aiming to capture what she called “the vast majority of the country.”
The town hall also provided a forum to address a recent point of internal controversy: Weiss’s decision to hold a 60 Minutes segment at the last minute. The report, concerning Venezuelans sent to a Salvadoran prison, was initially pulled from its December broadcast slot. It ultimately aired in mid-January, though without an on-camera interview with a Trump administration official that Weiss had sought.
Addressing staff questions, Weiss expressed some regret over the handling of the situation, calling it a “logistical nightmare” stemming from her newness to the network’s processes. She assured employees such a scenario would not be repeated and firmly denied that Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison had pressured her to delay the story, saying their discussions focused solely on “fairness.”
The session revealed persistent anxieties within the newsroom. One anonymous employee question, read aloud, described a “chilling effect,” with staff feeling afraid to offer feedback or criticism for fear of retaliation. “It feels right now like if we offer feedback, alternatives, or constructive criticism, that we are asking for targets on our backs,” the question stated.
Weiss acknowledged her ambitious plans might not suit everyone, telling staff, “Startups aren’t for everybody.” She framed the coming changes as a formidable challenge but one she was confident the well-resourced organization could win. “I took this job because I believe that in my bones, and because frankly, I don’t want to live in an America where there is no trust in our great institutions any more,” she said.
The event concluded with veteran anchor Gayle King offering public support, dismissing rumors of her departure and praising Weiss for finally presenting her vision directly to the staff. “For many people, they’ve never even heard your freaking voice,” King said. “So it’s good for them to see you’re a real person.”