World news and discussion on TalkFuse.
Bari Weiss at CBS News: A year of drama and challenges as she attempts to revamp the Tiffany Network
Bari Weiss’s first year as editor-in-chief of CBS News has brought newsroom disputes, high-profile staff departures and falling ratings as she seeks to steer the network towards a political centre. Her appointment by Paramount owner David Ellison has also drawn scrutiny because of concerns about the company’s relationship with President Donald Trump and fears that CBS coverage could shift politically.
Reported clashes have included Weiss’s decision to delay a “60 Minutes” report on a prison in El Salvador, which later aired, and disputes over coverage of Israel and a Michigan Senate candidate. The article says veteran correspondent Lesley Stahl reportedly considered leaving after an editing disagreement, though CBS called that account “ludicrous”. In May, CBS dismissed “60 Minutes” executive producer Tanya Simon and correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega, and appointed Nick Bilton to lead the programme.
In short
- Weiss’s first year at CBS has been marked by newsroom tensions.
- Several “60 Minutes” staff were dismissed in a major shake-up.
- The network is trying to appeal to political centrists amid falling ratings.