In brief
Three months into her role as CBS News chief, Bari Weiss encourages a shift away from traditional journalism in her latest speech, invoking Walter Cronkite as a reminder of the past while emphasizing the need to adapt to a changing media landscape. She outlines plans for hiring new contributors and focuses on investigative reporting to regain audience trust, expressing that CBS must innovate or face obsolescence in the competitive media environment.
Three months into her tenure as the head of CBS News, Bari Weiss spoke candidly to her staff about the urgent need for transformation within the network, invoking the legacy of Walter Cronkite as a symbol of outdated journalism. If we continue down our current path, we’re toast, she declared, emphasizing that CBS must surprise and provoke audiences, even within its own ranks.
In her speech, Weiss announced the recruitment of 18 new contributors, aiming to bring fresh perspectives and innovative storytelling to the forefront. Weiss, founder of the Free Press, has quickly become a notable and controversial figure in journalism, having previously blocked a critical 60 Minutes report on former President Donald Trump’s immigration policy from airing for a month.
Weiss's leadership aims to steer CBS News toward a more dynamic and investigative approach to journalism. Not enough people trust us, she noted, stressing that the network must evolve to meet the audience where it is — engaging in diverse media platforms such as podcasts, newsletters, and streaming services. Weiss argued that clinging to traditional broadcast television strategies would lead to CBS being abandoned by viewers.
Describing her vision, Weiss stated that CBS News should transform into a media start-up, focusing on rapid innovation and experimentation to regain its competitive edge in a landscape with an overwhelming number of information sources. We need to grow scoops of investigative journalism and storytelling that resonate, she insisted.
Throughout her address, Weiss emphasized the significance of reflecting the political diversity of the national conversation, underlining the need for CBS News to expand the range of voices and stories it presents. This reflects Weiss's commitment to a more provocative and engaging journalism style, urging a cultural shift within the network to attract and retain viewer trust.
As CBS News adapts to the demands of contemporary journalism, it remains to be seen how Weiss's strategies will play out and whether they will realign the network with an audience keen on diverse narratives and robust investigative pieces.
