Paramount expresses support for CBS News leader Bari Weiss amid criticism

CBS News parent company Paramount is standing by CBS News’ editor in chief, Bari Weiss, amid a torrent of controversies and lagging ratings on some programs.

The network released a statement supporting her after a report that senior leadership at the company has discussed changing Weiss’s role to lessen her oversight of CBS News – and, potentially, CNN, if the company’s acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery receives government approval.

“Bari has the full support of Paramount and David Ellison as the editorial leader overseeing CBS News and 60 Minutes,” a Paramount spokesperson said. “Reports suggesting otherwise are inaccurate.”

Weiss had no experience working in television when she was given oversight of CBS News’ editorial operations after David Ellison bought her digital site, the Free Press, for a reported $150m.

On Monday, Puck’s Dylan Byers reported “members of the senior leadership team have had informal discussions about changing Bari’s mandate at CBS News – and, eventually, CNN – in ways that would give her less control over the linear product”. Instead, Weiss would shift “her focus to the news division’s digital growth while maintaining broad editorial influence across all the company’s platforms”.

The report came amid fears that Weiss is planning to drastically retool the network’s most successful show, 60 Minutes, with insiders expressing fear that the show’s hallowed standing – and boffo ratings – could be put in jeopardy. The show has already lost one correspondent, Anderson Cooper, and is widely expected to cut ties with 60 Minutes veteran Sharyn Alfonsi, meaning that the show’s cast will look quite different when it returns for a 59th season this fall.

A CBS News staffer who spoke with the Guardian expressed skepticism about the report, suggesting that Weiss would probably need a few more stumbles before any change was made.

Puck’s reporting suggested that Paramount could bring in an executive to oversee CBS News and, potentially, CNN. Currently, Weiss is partnered with Tom Cibrowski, who serves as president of CBS News. It was unclear whether CNN chief executive, Mark Thompson, would remain with the company in the event that the merger was approved.