Bari Weiss is set to reveal her blueprint for CBS News to staff members on Tuesday, laying out how she intends to expand the network's audience and argue that its coverage is no longer marked by liberal bias. Weiss was named editor-in-chief in October after David Ellison, chief executive of Paramount Skydance, spent $150 million to acquire The Free Press, the digital publication Weiss founded.
Her elevation places a former opinion journalist and entrepreneur at the helm of a major broadcast newsroom despite her lack of prior television management experience. The assignment comes with the explicit goal of a political reset that originates with the network's new ownership and is aligned with promises made during the deal-making process.
David Ellison's acquisition and stewardship of the network are part of a broader strategy tied to his bid to influence the company's editorial posture. To secure regulatory approval for Skydance Media's August takeover of Paramount, Ellison pledged that CBS would present the "varied ideological perspectives" of American viewers. That pledge and the ownership change have unfolded in a politically charged atmosphere - President Donald Trump has actively targeted media he regards as unfriendly - and the Ellison family is connected to Trump through David Ellison's father, billionaire Larry Ellison, who is described as a Trump ally.
The new ownership has already generated controversy. In December, President Trump publicly criticized CBS's new owners after a "60 Minutes" interview with Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene aired on the same day Paramount Skydance initiated a $108 billion hostile bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent of a competing news outlet. The episode underscored the politically sensitive position CBS now occupies as it attempts to reshape its public image.
Weiss's selection surprised some industry observers because she is primarily known for opinion writing at major newspapers rather than for running television newsrooms. Her task is compounded by secular pressures on broadcast news: audiences have been migrating to social media, streaming, podcasts and other platforms, contributing to persistent declines in traditional nightly newscast viewership.
Evidence of the ratings challenge is clear. "CBS Evening News" ended last year trailing its main broadcast rivals, with the show finishing behind ABC's and NBC's nightly newscasts. Weiss's early tenure has been marked by internal strain. Staff dissension and in-fighting have been reported, and the network made an internal personnel change when Javier Guzman, the evening newscast's second-in-command producer, was let go, according to a person familiar with the decision. Guzman could not be reached for comment.
Weiss has also drawn criticism for programming decisions. She delayed airing a "60 Minutes" segment about a notorious prison in El Salvador, citing the need for additional reporting. Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi defended the reported piece in communications to colleagues, characterizing Weiss' intervention as "a political one." The episode has contributed to tensions between editorial staff and leadership.
The network's profile and credibility have been subject to public mockery as well. Comedian and awards host Nikki Glaser, at the Jan. 11 Golden Globes ceremony attended by David Ellison, lampooned CBS's news division, calling it "America's newest place to see B.S. news."
Despite the backlash, some employees expressed hope that Weiss' background as an entrepreneur could inject new thinking into a newsroom facing structural challenges. She has overseen some notable programming moves, including a gamble on a new evening anchor. The network installed Tony Dokoupil as the new anchor of its flagship broadcast.
Dokoupil framed his arrival as an attempt to recalibrate news judgment. "On too many stories, the press has missed the story," he said in promotional video material. He argued that the media has sometimes favored advocates, academics or elites over the perspectives of ordinary Americans. Dokoupil's revamped show has included unconventional elements, such as a segment profiling Secretary of State Marco Rubio that combined reporting with a lighthearted look at internet culture, featuring AI-generated memes portraying Rubio in a variety of imaginative roles. "Marco Rubio, we salute you," Dokoupil said on air during the segment. "You're the ultimate Florida man."
The new version of the broadcast, "The CBS Evening News with Tony Dokoupil," launched officially on Jan. 5. CBS reported the program averaged 4.4 million viewers at launch, a 9% improvement from its earlier performance in the season. Nonetheless, the debut left the network in last place among the three major network evening newscasts. According to Nielsen, ABC's "World News Tonight" averaged 8.24 million viewers and NBC's "Nightly News" drew 7.2 million.
Beyond placement among competitors, ratings reflect broader erosion: audience for the debut was down 23% from the same period a year earlier, a time that coincided with the run-up to President Trump's second term. While the ratings for Dokoupil's program improved between its first and second weeks, the broadcast still trails its rivals.
As Weiss outlines her plan to the newsroom, the network confronts intertwined editorial and market challenges - persuading a skeptical public about ideological balance while trying to arrest long-running audience declines. The strategy she presents will be scrutinized both inside the building and by viewers assessing whether the changes translate into stronger ratings and renewed credibility.