Bari Weiss Adds 19 New Contributors to CBS, Says Network is 'Toast' Without New Strategy

CBS News (Lean Left bias) head Bari Weiss (Center) unveiled her new plan for the network on Tuesday, which included offering buyouts to existing staff and further involving contributors from her outlet, The Free Press (Lean Right).

New Strategy: According to audio obtained by The Washington Post (Lean Left), Weiss said, "The honest truth is right now we are not producing a product that enough people want. I am here to make CBS News fit for purpose in the 21st century. Our strategy until now has been clinging to the audience that remains on broadcast television, and I'm here to tell you that if we stick to that strategy, we are toast."

Buyouts + New Staff: The New York Post (Lean Right) reported that CBS emailed its "Evening News" staff, "We are offering an extraordinary chance to leave CBS News with an enhanced separation payment." The network announced 19 new contributors, including journalists and podcasters, several of whom have contributed to The Free Press.

For Context: In October, Paramount bought The Free Press for $150 million and named Weiss head of CBS News. Weiss' appointment sparked mixed media reactions, with some saying it signaled a needed shift in mainstream media while others criticized Weiss for having a lack of experience and her Zionist views. CBS News has included a "Go Deeper With The Free Press" featured content block on its homepage since December.

How The Media Covered It: Several headline angles emerged across the spectrum, ranging from the reported buyout offer to the new contributors to Weiss's current assessment of the network. The Washington Post focused on the "raft" of Free Press contributors joining CBS, saying Weiss "has moved to accelerate the convergence of the two starkly different media brands." Axios (Lean Left) also noted that some of the contributors currently work for The Free Press. Other mainstream outlets like Reuters (Center), Al Jazeera (Lean Left), The New York Post, and Fox News (Right) didn't mention the overlap. Fox concluded by writing, "While The Free Press is frequently accused of carrying water for the Trump administration, Weiss' website's banner story on Monday was an editorial blasting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for 'lying' about the Border Patrol killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis."

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