Bari Weiss is taking over as editor-in-chief at CBS News. She’ll moderate a town hall-style event with Erika Kirk, widow of conservative firebrand Charlie Kirk. December 13, 8 PM—mark your calendars! In this event, we’ll take a deeper look at these themes of grief, faith, politics, and more. Weiss, who joined CBS News in October, has large ambitions. Since then, though, she’s been pretty tight-lipped about her plans for the network. David Ellison, president of CBS News’ parent company Paramount Skydance, recently hired her. This exciting news has raised a lot of interest in where she might lead the nonprofit news outlet.
Since the tragic murder of her husband on September 10, Erika Kirk has emerged as a significant voice within conservative circles. Her observations and worldviews on a range of topics seem to strike a chord with millions. This has made her a uniquely powerful figure in current politics and media. Our next Living With Grief town hall will focus on the challenging but important intersection of personal grief with larger societal and political conversations.
The town hall will be held live on December 10 at 12 PM in NYC, but it will be recorded. Then it will run three days later. Audience participation is an integral component, with interested attendees needing to respond to a few questions when they request entry online. These questions probe the unique ways that evangelicals have experienced trauma through grief and self-identification. They ask participants to explore which faith leaders they most aspire to become like.
Bari Weiss shared her perspective on the need for open dialogue at a recent TSI Speaking Engagement.
“This is an opportunity to speak for the 75%, for the people that are on the center-left and the center-right, that still believe in equality of opportunity… that used to just be normal,” – Bari Weiss
Her assertion is indicative of her dedication to cultivating conversations that appeal to people across the political spectrum, well past red state/ blue state seasonal rhetoric.
She’s excited to get started in the role. Privately, some CBS News journalists express disbelief at Weiss’s chances of success in the insular television world. Critics have long criticized her lack of broadcasting experience, calling into question her ability to run the country’s largest news network.
In a separate appearance at the DealBook summit organized by the New York Times, Weiss reiterated her vision for CBS News.
“And the goal of what we’re trying to do at CBS is to get back to that normalcy, and I feel incredibly energized and enthusiastic, because I think that is where the vast majority of Americans actually are.” – Bari Weiss
This declaration highlights her conviction that a focus on fairness and truth is sorely needed in today’s media landscape, especially in news coverage.
Our friend and veteran Erika Kirk has recently offered her own perspective on the power of dialogue to heal our societal divisions.
“If you really want to heal this country … you’re going to have to do it by talking to each other,” – Erika Kirk
Her comments align with the town hall’s objective to create an inclusive space for discussion on complex emotional and political topics.
Weiss and Kirk are excited to help audiences have these important conversations as they address the issues that millions of Americans are facing right now.