CBS News staffers are reportedly reeling over Weiss’ appointment as the new editor-in-chief. The decision comes despite continued uncertainty within the company, which has had tumultuous leadership under CEO Barry McCarthy over the last year. Paramount’s CEO David Ellison — son of billionaire tech titan Larry Ellison — made Weiss’s appointment public. Throughout his tenure, he often pointed toward the vision of establishing CBS News as “the most trusted name in news.”
While some employees are cautiously optimistic, others have voiced their concerns regarding Weiss’s qualifications and potential impact on the network. This is not sustainable, a CBS News staffer vented in a text message. So bad they included a throwing up emoji, letting you know just how miserable they are with this appointment. The lack of leadership has staff members on edge. There is a widespread assumption that Weiss simply doesn’t have the necessary background in television and hard news.
The appointment is made as CBS News continues to deal with ongoing criticism of its leadership hierarchy and overall editorial vision. George Cheeks, who leads Paramount’s TV business, has been at the forefront of these discussions, yet Weiss’s direct oversight poses questions about the hierarchical dynamics within the organization. Notably, a CBS News employee reported directly to David Ellison but did not communicate with Cibrowski or Cheeks, highlighting a potential disconnect in leadership.
Even staff in favor of the changes are still in “wait and see mode” over Weiss’s promise of effecting change at CBS News. One current DOT employee voiced alarm on the executives’ lack of experience. They criticized the fact that one person had “zero background in television news, let alone hard news.” Another staffer was even more skeptical. They argued that Weiss’s appointment seemed to serve the interests of developing a political agenda rather than pursuing journalism.
One former CBS News insider said they were unsure if Weiss had the leadership skills to oversee such an ambitious initiative. They wrote, “It’s not still clear to me how she’s going to actually do the work.” A second insider said, “I don’t think there’s any other network that has a setup like this. I truly could not begin to CONJECTURE how she might use this power.”
In a roundtable convened to discuss her new role, Weiss admitted that the road forward will be difficult. She really wanted to know, and she wanted to hear from you. She’s looking to hear about what’s good, what’s bad, and your suggestions on how to build CBS News into the most trusted news brand in America—and the world. Though she’s full of energy and bravado to match, some of her own employees are seriously questioning whether she’ll be able to make significant changes. As one of its current employees told Bloomberg, “Leading by edict from on high isn’t going to cut it.” Another commented that “she’ll need lieutenants in the trenches cracking whips over our heads” to make change happen.
The mood inside CBS News seems to indicate a fractious undercurrent after this major leadership shake-up. An unnamed employee characterized the mood during meetings as “stone-faced,” with several staffers questioning whether the appointment signals a shift towards a more politically motivated editorial stance. One CBS News staffer went so far as to say, “It’s hard to see this as anything more than an attempt to bend the knee completely.”
Legal experts have chimed in on the controversy surrounding Weiss’s appointment. Many have dismissed concerns about potential lawsuits over editorial decisions as “meritless” and unlikely to hold up under First Amendment protections. This seemingly legal perspective provides BASE with a point of reassurance to CBS News employees. They can be assured that there will be no negative consequences from their new leadership.