CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss faces a critical test with the upcoming season of '60 Minutes' after a controversial overhaul of its staff. Her previous programming changes have struggled, raising concerns about the flagship show's future ratings and her leadership.
Bari Weiss, 10 months into her tenure as CBS News editor-in-chief, is on the verge of her biggest challenge: the premiere of the new '60 Minutes' season. Weiss controversially revamped the show's correspondent corps and production staff, ousting veteran journalists and bringing in unconventional hires. This move is under intense scrutiny, as '60 Minutes' is a 'gold standard' program with 9 million average viewers; a ratings drop would be devastating. Weiss's prior programming changes, including a new anchor for 'CBS Evening News' and shifts at 'CBS Mornings,' have not boosted viewership, with some shows even losing audience. Insiders express concern about the direction of '60 Minutes,' with one new hire suggesting Weiss will 'either change the world or crash and burn.' Appointed after Skydance Media acquired Paramount and Weiss's website, she was tasked with elevating CBS News, which has historically trailed competitors. Despite public statements of support from CBS owner David Ellison, questions about Weiss's long-term future and the impact of her high-stakes decisions on the network's flagship program persist, especially as Ellison himself avoided directly addressing her performance.
