Bari Weiss looks to calm nerves at CBS News as – Business News
Bari Weiss is wanting to calm nerves at CBS News amid rumors of large modifications involving Gayle King and Norah O’Donnell — and growing fears of looming layoffs, The Post has discovered.
The 41-year-old journalist, who began as editor in chief on Monday, despatched a observe to workers on Friday in search of “to understand how you spend your working hours — and ideally, what you’ve made (or are making) that you are most proud of,” in accordance to Variety.
The memo drew comparisons to Elon Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency,” which earlier this 12 months requested workers for a weekly replace on “five things” they’d completed — earlier than starting a massacre that has since claimed 300,000 federal staff.
CBS News editor in chief Bari Weiss is making an attempt to calm fears whereas additionally placing her stamp on the community forward of layoffs. Getty Images for The Free Press
Weiss, nonetheless, took pains to emphasize she needed to pay attention — polling recipients for “your views on what’s working; what’s broken or substandard; and how we can be better,” in accordance to the outlet.
One insider opined that Weiss was profitable in sidestepping a panic at the struggling Tiffany Network.
“She’s putting people at ease even though they know cuts are coming,” the particular person advised The Post. “Through her meetings and communication this week, she has sort of reassured people that she’s not a maniac.”
Former “CBS Evening News” anchor Norah O’Donnell will doubtless be tapped to host a roundtable, inflicting hypothesis that she could develop into a contender for a prime anchor job at the community. Getty Images
Weiss’ newest transfer comes as some at the liberal community have been aghast over the arrival of the pro-Israel, anti-woke journalist who as half of her settlement to take the helm offered her centrist information web site, The Free Press, to CBS-parent Paramount Skydance for $150 million.
With job cuts looming, there has additionally been scuttle about shakeups at “CBS Evening News” and “CBS Mornings” — with O’Donnell’s title resurfacing as a contender for an anchor spot. Status reported Friday that O’Donnell had lunch with Weiss and seems to have emerged as a favourite of the new boss.
CBS didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.
On Thursday, Weiss, who had been in statement mode, rolled up her sleeves and bought concerned in editorial protection, working with the community’s bookers for interviews with Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, the architects of President Trump’s peace plan between Israel and Hamas, The Post reported.
The future of “CBS Mornings’” Gayle King is unsure as the high-paid anchor faces a contract renewal subsequent 12 months. CBS by way of Getty Images
Weiss additionally proposed an thought for a roundtable panel with former Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton, Mike Pompeo, and Antony Blinken, and labored her own contacts to make it occur, Semafor reported.
Sources advised the outlet that O’Donnell, who stepped down as “CBS Evening News” anchor earlier this 12 months, would doubtless host the roundtable, which might mark a stepping stone to probably making a comeback to the massive chair.
O’Donnell has been angling to return as her “Evening News” replacements, John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois have sunk the show’s rankings deeper into final place, averaging 4.1 million complete viewers, in accordance to Nielsen rankings.
But some insiders at the community scoffed at the concept of O’Donnell returning to “Evening News” — a show that underneath her misplaced about 25% of its complete viewership.
“CBS Evening News” co-hosts Maurice DuBois and John Dickerson have sunk the show’s rankings deeper into final place. Paramount Plus
“I can’t believe Bari would be fooled by Norah O’Donnell. Norah has a track record of losing and Bari wants to win,” mentioned a CBS source. “Nothing says CBS News is stuck in the past more than putting Norah O’Donnell back on the ‘Evening News.’”
Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison and president Jeff Shell have been “profoundly unhappy” with the revamped show and have entertained the concept of putitng her back in her outdated job, as beforehand reported by The Post in May.
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Meanwhile, King’s future at the penny-pinching community is murky, as the star’s profitable contract of between $13 million and $15 million a 12 months is up at the top of May, as beforehand reported by The Post.
Indeed, one other CBS source agreed that O’Donnell is a robust broadcaster however added that she can be higher suited returning to “CBS Mornings” the place she as soon as co-hosted the show with Gayle King and Charlie Rose.
“CBS Mornings” co-host Tony Dokoupil has emerged as a main candidate to anchor “CBS Evening News,” in accordance to a well-placed source. CBS by way of Getty Images
Such a situation would doubtless imply King can be out at the community, insiders mentioned, noting prior studies from The Post on the duo’s icy relationship, as properly as the community’s give attention to trimming the funds.
Like “Evening News,” “CBS Mornings” has misplaced about 10% of its viewership this 12 months, bringing its complete viewers to an all-time low of 1.9 million, Nielsen mentioned.
Sources mentioned if King leaves, Weiss might blow up each exhibits by shifting O’Donnell to the morning and Tony Dokoupil, “CBS Mornings” co-host, to “Evening News.”
In current years, Dokoupil has been floated as a candidate for “CBS Evening News” however the company has cited his “chemistry” with King and co-host Nate Burleson as a cause for him to keep. Insiders mentioned Dokoupil continues to be “green” and that he wants more expertise main a broadcast on main information occasions.
Staffers at the beleaguered CBS News are bracing for steep cuts, that are anticipated to roll out earlier than Thanksgiving. Christopher Sadowski
Dokoupil, nonetheless, brings pro-Israel credibility, which is probably going a draw for Weiss. A source close to the community mentioned Dokoupil has emerged as a main candidate of the in-house people.
The morning show co-anchor, who’s Jewish, made headlines final 12 months for his heated interview creator Ta-Nehisi Coates, who condemned Israel as an “apartheid” state in his new e book “The Message.”
Dokoupil was reprimanded at a workers assembly by CBS News CEO Wendy McMahon and her lieutenant Adrienne Roark for bringing his own “bias” to the interview, however the company’s then-owner Shari Redstone caught up for Dokoupil, and known as out management for its “made mistake.”
A CBS insider mentioned that a better option for “CBS Evening News” anchor can be “60 Minutes” correspondent Cecilia Vega, who has demonstrated her reporting and anchoring chops.
“Cecilia is the best of all the people at CBS,” the source mentioned. “Tony right now couldn’t handle election night by himself. Norah can and Cecilia can. With time, he can.”
