CBS News plans to cut 6% of its staff, source reports

• Affected employees are expected to be notified by end of day, though specific business units and shows impacted were not disclosed
• Weiss, who joined as editor-in-chief in October following Paramount Skydance's purchase of her outlet The Free Press, unveiled plans in January to add 19 new contributors while restructuring operations
• High-profile departures including '60 Minutes' journalist Anderson Cooper have already occurred as the network pursues a 'streaming mentality' and focuses on digital-first news coverage

CBS News to Cut 6% of Workforce in Strategic Restructuring

Key Development: CBS News announced plans to lay off approximately 6% of its staff on March 20, as part of a broader transformation strategy led by new Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss, who joined in October following Paramount Skydance's acquisition of her outlet The Free Press.

Leadership and Strategy: Weiss, alongside CBS News President Tom Cibrowski, sent a memo to employees acknowledging the "radically changing" news business. The restructuring aims to bring a "streaming mentality" to the network and help CBS catch up with competitors ABC and NBC in ratings.

Operational Changes: In January, Weiss unveiled plans to add 19 new contributors while focusing on digital platforms and streaming coverage. The memo emphasized that "parts of our newsroom must get smaller to make room for the things we must build to remain competitive," reflecting a shift toward reaching "new audiences in new places."

Personnel Impact: High-profile departures have already occurred, including "60 Minutes" journalist Anderson Cooper. Affected employees were expected to be notified by the end of Friday. The specific business units or shows impacted by the layoffs were not immediately disclosed.

Market Context: The cuts reflect broader industry challenges as traditional broadcast news organizations adapt to changing consumer habits and increased competition from digital platforms. The restructuring represents CBS's attempt to reallocate resources from traditional operations toward digital and streaming initiatives.

Source: The news was first reported by Variety and confirmed through internal memos obtained by Reuters.