Bari Weiss is looking to calm nerves at CBS News amid rumors of big changes involving Gayle King and Norah O’Donnell — and growing fears of looming layoffs, The Post has learned.
The 41-year-old journalist, who started as editor in chief on Monday, sent a note to staff on Friday seeking “to understand how you spend your working hours — and ideally, what you’ve made (or are making) that you are most proud of,” according to Variety.
The memo drew comparisons to Elon Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency,” which earlier this year asked employees for a weekly update on “five things” they had accomplished — before beginning a bloodbath that has since claimed 300,000 federal workers.
Weiss, however, took pains to emphasize she wanted to listen — polling recipients for “your views on what’s working; what’s broken or substandard; and how we can be better,” according to the outlet.
One insider opined that Weiss was successful in sidestepping a panic at the struggling Tiffany Network.
“She’s putting people at ease even though they know cuts are coming,” the person told The Post. “Through her meetings and communication this week, she has sort of reassured people that she’s not a maniac.”
Weiss’ latest move comes as some at the liberal network have been aghast over the arrival of the pro-Israel, anti-woke journalist who as part of her agreement to take the helm sold her centrist news site, The Free Press, to CBS-parent Paramount Skydance for $150 million.
With job cuts looming, there has also been scuttle about shakeups at “CBS Evening News” and “CBS Mornings” — with O’Donnell’s name resurfacing as a contender for an anchor spot. Status reported Friday that O’Donnell had lunch with Weiss and appears to have emerged as a favorite of the new boss.
CBS didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
On Thursday, Weiss, who had been in observation mode, rolled up her sleeves and got involved in editorial coverage, working with the network’s bookers for interviews with Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, the architects of President Trump’s peace plan between Israel and Hamas, The Post reported.
Weiss also proposed an idea for a roundtable panel with former Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton, Mike Pompeo, and Antony Blinken, and worked her own contacts to make it happen, Semafor reported.
Sources told the outlet that O’Donnell, who stepped down as “CBS Evening News” anchor earlier this year, would likely host the roundtable, which would mark a stepping stone to potentially making a comeback to the big chair.
O’Donnell has been angling to return as her “Evening News” replacements, John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois have sunk the show’s ratings deeper into last place, averaging 4.1 million total viewers, according to Nielsen ratings.
But some insiders at the network scoffed at the idea of O’Donnell returning to “Evening News” — a show that under her lost about 25% of its total viewership.
“I can’t believe Bari would be fooled by Norah O’Donnell. Norah has a track record of losing and Bari wants to win,” said a CBS source. “Nothing says CBS News is stuck in the past more than putting Norah O’Donnell back on the ‘Evening News.’”
Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison and president Jeff Shell have been “profoundly unhappy” with the revamped show and have entertained the idea of putitng her back in her old job, as previously reported by The Post in May.
Meanwhile, King’s future at the penny-pinching network is murky, as the star’s lucrative contract of between $13 million and $15 million a year is up at the end of May, as previously reported by The Post.
Indeed, another CBS source agreed that O’Donnell is a strong broadcaster but added that she would be better suited returning to “CBS Mornings” where she once co-hosted the show with Gayle King and Charlie Rose.
Such a scenario would likely mean King would be out at the network, insiders said, noting prior reports from The Post on the duo’s icy relationship, as well as the network’s focus on trimming the budget.
Like “Evening News,” “CBS Mornings” has lost about 10% of its viewership this year, bringing its total viewers to an all-time low of 1.9 million, Nielsen said.
Sources said if King leaves, Weiss could blow up both shows by moving O’Donnell to the morning and Tony Dokoupil, “CBS Mornings” co-host, to “Evening News.”
In recent years, Dokoupil has been floated as a candidate for “CBS Evening News” but the company has cited his “chemistry” with King and co-host Nate Burleson as a reason for him to stay. Insiders said Dokoupil is still “green” and that he needs more experience leading a broadcast on major news events.
Dokoupil, however, brings pro-Israel credibility, which is likely a draw for Weiss. A source close to the network said Dokoupil has emerged as a leading candidate of the in-house people.
The morning show co-anchor, who is Jewish, made headlines last year for his heated interview author Ta-Nehisi Coates, who condemned Israel as an “apartheid” state in his new book “The Message.”
Dokoupil was reprimanded at a staff meeting by CBS News CEO Wendy McMahon and her lieutenant Adrienne Roark for bringing his own “bias” to the interview, but the company’s then-owner Shari Redstone stuck up for Dokoupil, and called out management for its “made mistake.”
A CBS insider said that a better choice for “CBS Evening News” anchor would be “60 Minutes” correspondent Cecilia Vega, who has demonstrated her reporting and anchoring chops.
“Cecilia is the best of all the people at CBS,” the source said. “Tony right now couldn’t handle election night by himself. Norah can and Cecilia can. With time, he can.”
Credit: Source link
