CBS News announced a new round of layoffs on Friday, the latest for the news division under the network’s new parent Paramount Skydance.
In a memo to employees, CBS News editor in chief Bari Weiss and CBS News president Tom Cibrowski said in a statement, “It’s no secret that the news business is changing radically, and that we need to change along with it. New audiences are burgeoning in new places, and we are pressing forward with ambitious plans to grow and invest so that we can be there for them. That means some parts of our newsroom must get smaller to make room for the things we must build to remain competitive.”
The job reductions have been rumored for weeks. Weiss and Cibrowski did not give the extent of the cuts in their note, but it is said to represent about 6% of the workforce, according to a source familiar with the plans. That would represent around 60 to 70 employees in a workforce of about 1,100.
Weiss announced a new strategy for the network in January, putting a heavy emphasis on restoring trust in the news media, while urging a shift to streaming and building brands around talent.
The news division went through a round of cuts in October that impacted close to 100 staffers. The streaming editions of CBS Mornings and the CBS Evening News were canceled, and the hosts of CBS Saturday Morning were among those laid off. The network also closed its bureau in Johannesburg, and its Race & Culture Unit. At the time, there was the expectation that more layoffs were coming, and in recent weeks the word around the news division was that the job reductions would impact around 15% of the workforce.
Meanwhile, CBS Evening News went through a round of buyouts, with about a dozen staffers departings.
In their memo, Weiss and Cibrowski wrote, “We recognize that this is a difficult time for those who will be leaving CBS News. Because these aren’t just names on a list. They are talented, committed colleagues who have been critical to our success. We’ll treat them all with care and respect.”
Just about the entire news business has gone through layoffs in the past few years, as audiences shift to streaming and social media, among other reasons. Skydance had signaled that significant cuts were coming when they close the deal to buy Paramount last summer. But at CBS News, there is also the additional anxiety of the new Paramount’s proposed purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery, which will include CNN, and whether that means further upheaval as the company seeks cost savings by combining aspects of news operations.
Recent months also have seen some high profile departures, including correspondent Scott MacFarlane, and CBS Evening News anchors John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois. Anderson Cooper announced that he would not renew his contract as a correspondent for 60 Minutes, having had a dual role with CNN over the past 20 years. Also leaving: Shawna Thomas, executive producer of CBS Mornings, as the show goes through a round of changes. Gayle King, the longtime co-anchor of the show, did recently renew her contract.
More to come.
The complete memo below:
Good morning,
Today we are reducing the size of our workforce, and employees who are affected will be notified by the end of the day.
We recognize that this is a difficult time for those who will be leaving CBS News. Because these aren’t just names on a list. They are talented, committed colleagues who have been critical to our success. We’ll treat them all with care and respect.
It’s no secret that the news business is changing radically, and that we need to change along with it. New audiences are burgeoning in new places, and we are pressing forward with ambitious plans to grow and invest so that we can be there for them. That means some parts of our newsroom must get smaller to make room for the things we must build to remain competitive.
But these are very hard choices and today is a difficult day.
This is a tough message to receive at any time, and especially in the middle of an exceptionally intense news cycle. This organization is working its heart out to deliver for our audience. We’re so grateful to all of you, and we thank you for handling this difficult news with compassion.
Bari and Tom
English (US) ·