Bari Weiss Delivers Blunt Assessment to CBS News Staff in First Town Hall
In her inaugural address to CBS News employees as editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss delivered a stark warning about the network's future direction, stating bluntly that continuing with current strategies would leave the organisation "toast." The town hall meeting, held on Tuesday morning, marked Weiss's first comprehensive communication with staff since joining the network in October following Paramount Skydance's acquisition of her company, The Free Press, for a reported $150 million.
Acknowledging Staff Concerns and Setting New Direction
Weiss opened her remarks by directly addressing the "tumult and noise" surrounding her appointment and the understandable skepticism among employees. "I just want to start by saying: I get it. And I get why, in the face of all this tumult and noise, you might feel uncertain or skeptical about me and about what I'm aiming to do here," Weiss stated, according to an audio recording obtained by the Guardian.
Rather than asking for immediate trust, Weiss committed to earning it through "transparency, clarity, and straight talk" - qualities she emphasised as fundamental to her journalistic approach. She positioned herself as someone who would extend the same honesty to staff that she has traditionally offered readers and listeners throughout her career.
Strategic Overhaul and New Talent Acquisition
Weiss outlined her vision to "make CBS News fit for purpose in the 21st century," describing the network as "the best-capitalised media start-up in the world" with the resources, talent, and mandate to undergo significant transformation. As part of this strategic shift, CBS News announced the addition of 18 new on-air contributors, including prominent figures from politics, academia, and culture.
The new roster features medical expert Mark Hyman, historian Niall Ferguson, neuroscientist Andrew Huberman, and former national security advisor H R McMaster - appointments that have generated both interest and controversy within media circles. Weiss framed these additions as essential to revitalising the network's content and reach.
Addressing Editorial Controversies and Staff Anxieties
During the question-and-answer session, Weiss addressed her controversial decision to pull a 60 Minutes segment about Venezuelans sent to an El Salvadoran prison shortly before its scheduled December airing. While defending her editorial prerogative to seek additional information, Weiss expressed regret about the timing and communication of her decision.
"Now, am I ever going to hold something again after it has been put out there with promos? I don't want to make that exact same decision again. No, I do not," she acknowledged. The segment eventually aired on January 18, though without the on-camera Trump administration interview Weiss had requested.
Weiss firmly denied that Paramount Skydance chief executive David Ellison had pressured her regarding the story, stating their conversations had focused exclusively on "fairness" rather than editorial interference.
Staff Concerns About Workplace Culture
Anonymous questions submitted by employees revealed significant anxieties within the newsroom about Weiss's leadership. One staffer wrote: "Certain decisions and editorial choices have scared us. At Evening News, people are afraid for their jobs and afraid to even speak for fear of retaliation. There has been a chilling effect within our newsroom."
The question continued: "It feels right now like if we offer feedback, alternatives, or constructive criticism, that we are asking for targets on our backs - or the answer is simply no." This candid feedback highlighted the cultural challenges Weiss faces in implementing her transformation agenda.
Vision for CBS News's Future
Weiss presented a clear editorial positioning for the network, stating: "CBS News is for the center, we're for the center-right, and we're for the center-left. And that is the vast majority of the company - that's who we need to reach." She emphasised the need to move beyond traditional broadcast television audiences and embrace new formats to rebuild trust with viewers.
"Our strategy until now has been: cling to the audience that remains on broadcast television," Weiss observed. "I'm here to tell you that if we stick to that strategy, we're toast. Starting now, we have to focus on what we're building, not on what we're maintaining."
She committed to investing in "producing revelatory journalism every day," which she described as "the only kind that's going to matter in the 21st century."
Internal Reactions and Support
Morning show host Gayle King offered support during the event, dismissing rumours about her potential departure and praising Weiss for articulating a clear vision. "For many people, they've never even heard your freaking voice," King told Weiss. "So it's good for them to see you're a real person and this is what you want and how you feel about us and how you feel about this job."
Despite some staff describing the event as "so produced" and "so forced," Weiss received substantial applause as the town hall concluded. She acknowledged that her transformation plans "aren't for everybody" but expressed confidence in the network's ability to succeed through what she predicted would be "one hell of a fight."
Weiss concluded with a passionate defence of her decision to take the role: "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 anymore. And CBS News is one of those institutions."
