What To Know
- Paramount is reportedly considering reducing CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss’ control in favor of a more experienced TV executive.
- Since her appointment in October 2025, Weiss has led significant changes at CBS News, including promoting Tony Dokoupil to CBS Evening News.
- No final decisions have been made, but Weiss may retain broad editorial influence while focusing on digital growth.
It’s been a turbulent few months for Bari Weiss since she took over as CBS News editor-in-chief last October, and it appears Paramount may be ready to push her aside in favor of a “more experienced” TV executive to oversee CBS Evening News, CBS Mornings, and 60 Minutes.
According to a new report from Puck News’ Dylan Byers, the higher-ups at Paramount-Skydance are considering taking away some of Weiss’ control amid constant negative press.
“Bari has endured her role as media punching bag with relative aplomb, refusing to betray exhaustion or vulnerability while seeming to plow ahead with her plans to overhaul the network,” Byers wrote. “Meanwhile, [David] Ellison and the Paramount brass have afforded her ample leeway because they genuinely like her, endorse the editorial pivot, and, frankly, have far bigger priorities than the news division.”
Paramount CEO David Ellison appointed Weiss as CBS News editor-in-chief in October 2025 following the company’s merger with Skydance. Since then, Weiss has been putting her stamp on the network, including hiring, firing, promoting, and even pulling reports. Despite criticism, Paramount has stood by the Free Press co-founder.
However, Byers reported that “there are signs that the dynamics are starting to shift.” He added, “Members of the senior leadership team have had informal discussions about changing Bari’s mandate at CBS News — and, eventually, CNN — in ways that would give her less control over the linear product.”
Paramount-Skydance successfully bid for Warner Bros. Discovery earlier this year. The deal, which is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026, would see Paramount take ownership of the WBD film studios, HBO, and the company’s linear networks, including CNN.
According to the Puck report, there are no plans set in stone yet regarding Weiss’ future, and “it’s unclear how involved David himself has been in the discussions.”
“Bari would likely cede day-to-day control over Evening News, CBS Mornings, and 60 Minutes to this more experienced, as-yet-unnamed executive, shifting her focus to the news division’s digital growth while maintaining broad editorial influence across all the company’s platforms,” Byers wrote.
