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
