Bari Weiss Pushes Digital-First Shift at CBS News Meeting

In a company-wide meeting on Tuesday, CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss outlined her vision for transforming the network into a digital-first operation, urging staff to embrace rapid change or consider leaving amid ongoing internal tensions and declining viewership.

Weiss, who joined CBS in October after the network's parent company Paramount acquired her digital publication The Free Press for $150 million, addressed employees across bureaus in a session described by participants as a reset following a turbulent start to her tenure. She acknowledged skepticism among staff, stating, "I'm not going to stand up here today and ask for your trust. I'm going to earn it, just like we have to do with our viewers." Weiss emphasized transparency and straight talk, positioning CBS News as "the best-capitalized media startup in the world" that must innovate to survive.

Central to her plan is a shift away from reliance on traditional broadcast television, which she warned would lead to obsolescence. "Our strategy until now has been to cling to the audience that remains on broadcast television. If we stick to that strategy, we're toast," Weiss said. She called for expanding successful...