CBS News Staffers Split Over Bari Weiss’ Leadership Style
Faces internal disagreement over editor-in-chief Bari Weiss as staffers describe sharply different experiences of her leadership. Page Six reported that some…
For CBS News, leadership questions are unfolding alongside pressure to improve its television audience. One year into Bari Weiss’ tenure, staffers have sharply different accounts of whether the editor-in-chief listens to newsroom concerns, Page Six reported.
One source told Page Six that employees who disagree with Weiss’ decisions struggle to make their views heard. Another insider disputed that description, saying people across the organization contribute ideas during editorial meetings.
The disagreement comes as CBS News grapples with audience declines and changes to prominent programs, including “CBS Evening News” and “60 Minutes.” The competing accounts leave a central question about the newsroom’s direction: how much influence staff feedback has on decisions.
Staffers describe contrasting experiences
Weiss took charge of CBS News a year before the Page Six report, which described her first year as marked by controversy. A source told the publication: “She doesn’t hear anybody. If you don’t agree with what she’s saying or doing, it doesn’t matter. She pretends to hear ideas, but she really doesn’t listen to anyone.”
The account also cited the decision to move Tony Dokoupil from “CBS Mornings” to anchor “CBS Evening News.” Page Six reported that viewership declined after the switch, though the article did not provide figures for that change.
Weiss also overhauled “60 Minutes,” according to Page Six. The publication said the changes brought further negative headlines and viewers switching away from the program.
Another source offered a different picture of how decisions are discussed. “There’s constant input from the entire news organization, and she frequently commends the points raised by people” during the 9 a.m. editorial meetings, the insider told Page Six.
The disagreement matters beyond newsroom morale. Television ratings shape how broadcasters assess the reach of flagship programs and their appeal to advertisers. For CBS, the audience figures in the separate Variety report show the scale of the challenge facing its morning and evening broadcasts, even as sources cited some recent gains.
Ratings pressure and signs of a rebound
Variety reported that “CBS Mornings” averaged 1.6 million viewers in the third quarter, including 256,000 viewers aged 25 to 54, a group the publication described as especially important to news advertisers. The program remained behind competitors at ABC and NBC.
“CBS Evening News” had a slight increase in viewers compared with the same period a year earlier, Variety reported. Its total audience, however, remained significantly below the level before former anchor Norah O’Donnell left in early 2025. Both broadcasts were still behind their rivals in the same time slots.
Page Six’s sources also pointed to recent bookings, including Sylvester Stallone on “CBS Sunday Morning” and Patrick Clancy, as contributing to a ratings spike for “60 Minutes.” One insider said senior leaders see value in Weiss’ ideas and described her as someone who incorporates suggestions into the organization’s work.
Variety separately reported that CBS News had brought in Steven Baker, a former executive producer of ABC News’ “Nightline,” as a consultant. CBS News President Tom Cibrowski told staff Baker would advise him on the network’s daily news programs and bring new ideas to their leaders.
The reports present two pressures at once: CBS News must try to improve its audience while navigating divided views inside the organization about how its leadership handles feedback. Variety’s reported “CBS Mornings” average was 1.6 million viewers in the third quarter.
Source: pagesix.com
