The layoffs affect approximately 60 employees, according to multiple reports. Employees impacted will be notified by the end of the day on Friday, multiple reports indicate. In a joint statement, Bari Weiss and Tom Cibrowski, the editor-in-chief and president of CBS News, said they are reducing the workforce and affected employees will be notified by the end of the day, recognizing it as a difficult time for departing colleagues, according to multiple reports.
Bari Weiss is the editor-in-chief of CBS News. According to major media reports, Weiss became editor-in-chief after Paramount acquired her media startup, The Free Press, in October 2025. David Ellison is the CEO of Paramount Skydance and owner of CBS News, according to multiple reports. The layoffs are part of a shift to make CBS News more appealing to younger, digitally focused viewers, major media reports indicate. CBS News is moving away from traditional TV broadcasts and focusing more on digital and streaming platforms, according to major media reports, though the specific platforms it is investing in have not been detailed.
Workers at CBS News walked out for 24 hours on Tuesday after a new contract agreement was not reached, major media reports indicate. About 60 workers at the streaming service CBS News 24/7 are represented by the Writers Guild of America East, according to major media reports. The union contract expired on March 9, major media reports state, and 95% of the unit signed a strike pledge delivered to management on March 10, according to major media reports. The union alleges management is proposing worse terms than previous contracts, according to the Writers Guild of America East. In a statement, the Writers Guild of America East said CBS News 24/7 journalists are walking off the job because management refuses to agree to a new contract with essential work protections and fair wages, according to major media reports. According to The Guardian - World, Beth Godvik, WGAE vice-president of broadcast/cable/streaming news, described Paramount as having billions to spend acquiring Warner Bros Discovery but still not guaranteeing fair wages and basic job protections for streaming news workers. A CBS News spokesperson said they continue to negotiate in good faith and hope to reach a fair resolution quickly, according to multiple reports. The exact terms of the proposed contract that led to the walkout and why negotiations failed remain unclear.
Paramount has billions to spend acquiring Warner Bros Discovery, but still hasn’t guaranteed fair wages and basic job protections for the workers who make their streaming news operation run.
Before the latest layoffs, 11 staffers from CBS Evening News accepted voluntary buyouts last month, according to major media reports. The radio service shutdown affects more than 700 affiliate stations, major media reports indicate. The decision to end the radio service was due to a shift in radio station programming strategies and economic challenges, according to major media reports. The full impact on affiliate stations and listeners is not yet known.
Bari Weiss faced criticism in December after pulling a segment from 60 Minutes about the Trump administration's deportations of Venezuelan men to a detention centre in El Salvador, according to major media reports. Weiss unveiled plans in January to hire new contributors and restructure digital news coverage, major media reports indicate. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani withdrew from a planned interview with CBS News due to concerns over the network's coverage, according to The Independent - World.
CBS News has a partnership agreement with the BBC to share news content including video footage, according to major media reports. David Ellison's takeover of Paramount was approved by the Trump administration this summer after Paramount agreed to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit brought by Trump over a 60 Minutes interview, major media reports indicate. Anderson Cooper left 60 Minutes in February to spend more time with his family, according to major media reports. Skydance Media is finalizing a $110 billion takeover of Warner Bros Discovery, major media reports state. Whether there will be further layoffs or restructuring at CBS News beyond the current round is unknown.