Major CBS News Layoffs Begin Under Bari Weiss Restructuring Plan
CBS News is undergoing layoffs, as editor-in-chief Bari Weiss and president Tom Cibrowski seek to remake the broadcast news division. The executives announced the cuts Friday morning, telling staff that it is a “difficult day” at the company. Around 6 percent of staff, representing dozens of employees, will be impacted. It’s the second round of…
CBS News is undergoing layoffs, as editor-in-chief Bari Weiss and president Tom Cibrowski seek to remake the broadcast news division.
The executives announced the cuts Friday morning, telling staff that it is a “difficult day” at the company. Around 6 percent of staff, representing dozens of employees, will be impacted.
It’s the second round of layoffs in six months at CBS News (a round in October canceled some streaming shows and overhauled the Saturday morning show), but these are the first in pursuit of Weiss’ new strategy, which she outlined to staff earlier this year.
Weiss and Cibrowski alluded to the strategic rationale in their note.
“It’s no secret that the news business is changing radically, and that we need to change along with it,” they wrote.“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.”
Weiss wants to return CBS’ morning and evening shows to a place of ratings growth, while investing heavily in digital products to meet consumers where they are increasingly spending their time with news and talk content.
The contours of that strategy remain somewhat opaque, though CBS News is bringing on a variety of contributors with various points of view, and Weiss has been seeking journalists that put themselves at the center of the story as much as possible to emphasize that they are where the news is happening. On streaming, the company has been seeking new voices to match the video podcast economy.
One big change that was announced Friday: The shuttering of CBS News Radio effective May 22. The service provided news programming to some 700 affiliated stations across the country, and goes back nearly 100 years. Edward R. Murrow delivered his World War II dispatches on the service. World News Roundup is the longest-running news broadcast in America.
“While this was a necessary decision, it was not an easy one,” Weiss and Cibrowski wrote to CBS Radio staff. “A shift in radio station programming strategies, coupled with challenging economic realities, has made it impossible to continue the service. We are sharing this announcement now to fulfill our commitments to our radio partners and affiliates, which require advance notice of the service’s conclusion.”
But the cuts also come as CBS owner Paramount is seeking to acquire CNN owner Warner Bros. Discovery, a deal that would surely further consolidate the TV news business. In a fiery statement Friday afternoon, the WGA East said the cuts were due to “recklessness and greed.”
“The dozens of CBS journalists laid off today have served the American people through their talent and dedication,” the WGA East statement read. “Given the damage David Ellison has done to CBS News in mere months, the Ellison family must not be permitted to acquire CNN or any other vital news outlets.”
Read Weiss and Cibrowski’s note, 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
The CBS News ratio note:
Today, we informed our CBS News Radio team and approximately 700 affiliated stations that we will end the service on May 22, 2026.
Unfortunately, this decision means that all positions within the CBS News Radio team are being eliminated. We understand how difficult this news is for our staff and their colleagues, who have worked side by side with us to cover some of the most significant stories of our time.
While this was a necessary decision, it was not an easy one. A shift in radio station programming strategies, coupled with challenging economic realities, has made it impossible to continue the service. We are sharing this announcement now to fulfill our commitments to our radio partners and affiliates, which require advance notice of the service’s conclusion.
For nearly 100 years, CBS News Radio has delivered original reporting to the nation—from Edward R. Murrow’s World War II reports in London to today’s daily White House updates. Our signature broadcast, “World News Roundup,” remains the longest-running newscast in the country. CBS News Radio served as the foundation for everything we have built since 1927.
The coming weeks will be difficult for the team members who have worked tirelessly at CBS News Radio. We are committed to supporting these valued colleagues with care and respect as we wind down operations. They have been critical to our success and remain treasured friends and professionals. We thank them deeply for their contributions.
Thank you all for your dedication and for the compassion you show one another as we move forward.
Bari and Tom
March 20, 7:40 am Updated with news of the CBS News Radio division shuttering.
