CBS News begins new major round of layoffs: ‘This is really hard and really tough’ CBS News announced it is laying off dozens of employees and ending its nearly 100-year-old radio service, CBS News Radio, as part of a strategic restructuring. The decision was communicated in a memo to staff from editor-in-chief Bari Weiss and president Tom Cibrowski, who informed employees by the end of the day whether their positions were affected. The cuts are expected to impact approximately 6% of the roughly 1,100-person staff, though earlier estimates had suggested a higher percentage. The radio service will cease operations on May 22, 2026, with the CBS News Radio team and about 700 affiliated stations notified of the closure. Weiss and Cibrowski acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, emphasizing that the layoffs were not a reflection of employees’ performance but a response to evolving media trends and economic challenges. They described the changes as necessary to adapt to a shifting industry, noting that new audiences are emerging in different regions and that the network must invest in growth to remain competitive. “New audiences are burgeoning in new places, and we are pressing forward with ambitious plans to grow and invest so that we can be there for them,” they wrote. “That means some parts of our newsroom must get smaller to make room for the things we must build to remain competitive.” The announcement followed an earlier round of layoffs in late October, which had been described as a “blood bath” by some staff. Weiss was more directly involved in planning the latest cuts, which come amid ongoing restructuring efforts. The network has also faced departures of key staff, including justice correspondent Scott MacFarlane, who left earlier this month.#paramount #cbs_news #tom_cibrowski #bary_weiss #warner_bros_discovery
CBS News shutters its storied radio news service after nearly a century, ending an era CBS News announced on Friday that it is shutting down its radio news service after nearly 100 years of operation, marking the end of a long-standing tradition. The decision comes amid a series of layoffs and reflects broader challenges facing the industry, including shifting radio programming strategies and economic pressures. The network confirmed the closure of the service, which will cease operations on May 22. The radio news service, launched in September 1927, played a pivotal role in the early development of CBS. It served as a platform for William S. Paley, who later became the network’s founder, and featured iconic broadcasts such as Edward R. Murrow’s war coverage from London during World War II. Today, the service provided news content to approximately 700 radio stations nationwide, known for its top-of-the-hour news roundups. CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss and president Tom Cibrowski acknowledged the decision in a memo to staff, stating it was “a necessary decision” but one they found difficult. The closure underscores the declining influence of radio as a primary news source, a role it once held alongside newspapers from the 1920s through the 1940s. Radio’s prominence waned with the rise of television in the 1950s and has since diminished further in the digital age, where online platforms and podcasts dominate audio consumption. The network’s website did not prominently feature the news of the shutdown on its front page. Weiss, who has become a central figure at CBS News, has emphasized the need for the network to adapt its strategies. She has called for stories that “surprise and provoke,” including internal critiques of the newsroom.#cbs_news #tom_cibrowski #bari_weiss #william_s_paley #edward_r_murrow
CBS News is shutting down its radio division and cutting approximately 6% of its workforce, with executives citing the need to reallocate resources amid shifting industry trends and economic pressures. The layoffs, which affect dozens of employees, mark the second round of reductions since David Ellison took control of Paramount last summer. The decision signals the end of a 99-year-old service that once delivered live news updates to millions of listeners. The radio unit, which will cease operations on May 22, will leave its 700 affiliated stations with two months to find a replacement. In a memo to staff, CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss and president Tom Cibrowski acknowledged the closure as a difficult but necessary step. They noted that changes in radio programming strategies and financial challenges have made sustaining the service unsustainable. “CBS News Radio served as the foundation for everything we have built since 1927,” they wrote, adding that the decision reflects broader shifts in the news industry. The layoffs come amid a period of significant transformation for CBS News. Paramount is awaiting regulatory approval for its planned acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, including CNN, which could lead to a future merger between CNN and CBS News. However, sources confirmed that the potential integration of CNN did not influence the current cuts. Regulatory approval for the deal is expected to take at least six months, and the companies must remain separate until then. Weiss and Cibrowski framed the cuts as part of a larger effort to adapt to a rapidly evolving media landscape. They emphasized the need to invest in new platforms and audiences while streamlining operations.#paramount #cbs_news #david_ellison #tom_cibrowski #bari_weiss
