CBS News announced a new round of layoffs on Friday, affecting roughly 6% of its workforce as part of a strategic restructuring under Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss and President Tom Cibrowski. The cuts impact approximately more than 60 staffers in the newsroom.
Key Takeaways
CBS News announced layoffs affecting roughly 6% of its workforce and shut down its radio service after nearly 100 years. The cuts are part of a strategic restructuring under Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss and President Tom Cibrowski, who cited changing industry dynamics. This is the second round of layoffs since David Ellison acquired Paramount last summer.
- CBS News lays off approximately 6% of its workforce (over 60 people)
- The network shuts down its radio service after nearly 100 years
- Layoffs and closure attributed to shifting industry dynamics and economic challenges
- This is the second round of layoffs since David Ellison's acquisition of Paramount
- High-profile journalists have left the network recently, including Anderson Cooper
The decision comes alongside the closure of CBS News Radio after nearly 100 years of operation. In a memo to staff, Weiss and Cibrowski stated that all positions within the CBS News Radio team will be eliminated, with the service ending on May 22, 2026. The executives attributed the cuts to radical changes in the news industry and the need to adapt to new audiences.
This marks the second round of layoffs at CBS News since David Ellison acquired Paramount, the parent company of CBS, last summer. About 100 staffers' roles were eliminated as part of the October 2025 cuts. Weiss has faced criticism for various decisions, including postponing a 60 Minutes piece and appointing Tony Dokoupil as anchor of CBS Evening News, which has not improved ratings.
The layoffs follow an earlier round in late October, described by some staffers as a 'blood bath.' The network has also seen several key staffers leave through buyouts and resignations. Weiss acknowledged the difficulty of the cuts but emphasized that they are necessary for the network's competitive future. The timing is particularly challenging given the intense news cycle covering global events.
Employees will be notified by the end of the day if their job has been affected, according to BBC. The memo from Weiss and Cibrowski also mentioned that a 'shift in radio station programming strategies' and economic challenges made it impossible to continue the service. CBS came under the control of David Ellison after he took over Paramount as part of a wider merger with his Hollywood studio Skydance last year.
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