In the latest media rumblings about Bari Weiss’s tenure thus far as CBS News editor-in-chief, The New York Post dished on the finale of CBS Saturday Morning with Dana Jacobson and Michelle Miller while The Wall Street Journal revealed “a rallying cry” Weiss has clung to thus far in meetings in stating, “I wanna blow this up.”
First, the Post’s great Alexandra Steigrad said the final episode of the current Saturday show would air on November 22, but the real news nugget was the fact that “no replacements have been revealed to staffers” with CBS News executives remaining “tight-lipped on who would replace the hosts…or what the vision for the show will be — an information vacuum that has left employees on edge, sources said.”
She had one source scoff this was “par for the course” because CBS “has no plans” another insisted something will come to fruition.
Steigrad said correspondent Adriana Diaz – who co-hosted the now-deceased CBS Mornings Plus – will fill in next Saturday “but doesn’t appear to be interested” in the full-time gig.
Steigrad correctly surmised the first few Saturdays will feature “a carousel of fill-ins” with no “particularly deep bench” to pull from.
She said, along with Diaz, correspondents Errol Barnett and Kelly O’Grady have been floated along with CBS Weekend News anchor Jericka Duncan. Of those, O’Grady would best signal a change in tilt and tone.
Over at The Journal, Joe Flint and Isabella Simonetti wrote Thursday that Weiss’s developing moniker steps from her deep desire to truly change CBS News away from what it’s been (which we’re pleased to hear and will continue to hold them to account).
“Weiss…is working to overhaul the organization’s evening news program, counter what she sees as a left-leaning bias in legacy media and make the newsroom operate more efficiently,” they wrote, adding her “caravan of SUVs and a gaggle of bodyguards” has drawn some eyerolls while others have recognized the threats she faces (and leaving out the fact she’s a prominent Jewish woman in New York City).
For those concerned as to whether she’d clash with CBS News President Tom Cibrowski, The Journal said they “have developed a working rapport while she sketches out her vision for the future” as Weiss has “spent time with some high profile talent.”
After noting prominent departures of CBS News executives not tied to layoffs, they conceded Weiss’s “approach to talent management and operations” has seen both successes and false starts as, along with “played a more active role in booking guests using her professional network” to help the network achieve big gets, she’s sought out talent from rival networks directly even though many options (e.g. Bret Baier) are on long-term deals.
“To fans and supporters, her methods represent a needed shake-up for an institution that has become stuck in its ways and is struggling to compete in the ratings,” they noted.
Highlighting an email that was met with wide derision for simply asking employees what they do day-to-day, another solicited answers on “how we can make CBS News the most trusted news organization in America and the world.”
For a network that has consistently been in third-place for decades on its flagship morning and evening newscasts, one would think “blow it up” is necessary!
Along with relitigating the first of two expected rounds of layoffs (including the Chris Livesay vs. Debora Patta hoopla), they shared the latest on possible makeovers at CBS Mornings and CBS Evening News (click “expand”):
Weiss is expected to detail a more specific strategy in the coming weeks for the newsroom. But her discussions with colleagues have already given them a sense of what she wants.
One priority is a makeover of the “CBS Evening News,” the longtime third-place newscast, according to people familiar with the situation. That task involves finding a new face for the show. Anchor John Dickerson has already announced his departure and co-anchor Maurice DuBois is also expected to be replaced.
(….)
“CBS Mornings” is another challenge. Anchor Gayle King’s contract is up early next year and the network might look for a cheaper alternative to her roughly $15 million annual salary, a person familiar with the matter said.
