CBS News Lays Off 60 People, 6% of Division’s Workforce

CBS News has announced layoffs, with sources indicating that nearly 60 employees—about 6% of the division’s workforce—could be affected.

CBS News is being steered towards a more conservative direction. (Photo: Lisa Lynch Flickr) 

Editor-in-chief Bari Weiss and CBS News President Tom Cibrowski informed staff in a memo that the cuts were necessary to adapt to a changing media landscape and remain competitive, Raw America reported.

This round of layoffs is widely seen within the network as being driven by Weiss, marking a significant test of her leadership since David Ellison appointed her to reshape CBS News in a more conservative direction.

Last month, 11 staff members from Evening News accepted voluntary buyouts.

High-profile correspondents, including Anderson Cooper, have already departed. The program, now anchored by Tony Dokoupil, draws fewer than 4 million viewers, trailing behind ABC and NBC.

It is worth being direct about what is happening. David Ellison is reportedly nearing a deal to acquire CNN, HBO, and Warner Bros. Discovery.

The FCC chair has threatened broadcast licenses over war coverage.

A former Newsmax executive has been installed at Voice of America.

Meanwhile, the most-watched news network built on the legacy of Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite is undergoing a significant transformation under leadership that critics say is pursuing a defined political agenda.