Summary: CBS News plans to lay off roughly 6% of its employees as part of a broader effort led by new editor-in-chief Bari Weiss to reorient the network toward digital distribution and streaming-style coverage. A memo from Weiss and CBS News President Tom Cibrowski describes the change as necessary to pursue new audiences and build out initiatives on digital platforms.
In a note circulated to staff on Friday, Weiss and Cibrowski framed the move as a strategic shift rather than a standalone cost-cutting exercise. The memo states: "It’s no secret that the news business is changing radically, and that we need to change along with it." It adds that "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... parts of our newsroom must get smaller to make room for the things we must build to remain competitive."
The announcement did not specify which business units or individual programs will be affected by the reductions. The memo indicated that employees who will be impacted by the latest round of layoffs should expect notification by the end of the day.
The staffing reductions come as Weiss pursues a plan to reshape programming and personnel. She introduced a strategy in January to add 19 new contributors while reorganizing operations and initiating news coverage tailored to digital platforms. Since taking on the role of editor-in-chief in October, Weiss has overseen departures of several high-profile journalists; the memo and accompanying reporting noted that figures such as "60 Minutes" correspondent Anderson Cooper have parted ways with CBS News since her arrival. Weiss' takeover followed the purchase of her outlet The Free Press by Paramount Skydance.
The network's leadership presented the changes as part of a push to adopt a "streaming mentality," emphasizing that the newsroom must evolve to meet audiences where they are. At the same time, the company acknowledged that pursuing the new initiatives will require a smaller footprint in some parts of the newsroom to free resources for the areas it plans to expand.
Operational context:
- The workforce reduction is approximately 6%.
- Leaders highlighted the need to invest in digital platforms and streaming-style coverage.
- Details on affected units or shows were not provided; employee notifications are expected by the end of the day.