CBS News staffers won’t face punishment if they don’t respond to new boss Bari Weiss’ memo, which asked for information about their jobs and the network more broadly, according to multiple employee unions.
Weiss, the new editor-in-chief of CBS News, sent an email to her colleagues on Friday morning, telling each of them to send her a note by the end of Tuesday.
“I want to understand how you spend your working hours — and, ideally, what you’ve made (or are making) that you’re most proud of,” Weiss told newsroom employees in the memo, which was viewed by Business Insider.
The Writers Guild of America East, SAG-AFTRA, and IBEW — which represent many CBS News employees — all indicated to their members that responding to the memo was optional. The unions said that if staffers chose to respond, their replies would not be the basis for discipline or layoffs.
SAG-AFTRA also shared a message from CBS Labor Relations that said: “This is an outreach from a new leader who would like to get to know the organization and the employees, and use it as a discussion guide as she meets with employees in the coming weeks and months as time permits.”
It’s common for new corporate leaders to request information about an organization and the roles of their employees. Requests for memos companywide are less common.
Paramount Skydance chief David Ellison appointed Weiss on October 6 to be the top editor of CBS News, the 98-year-old institution home to the likes of Walter Cronkite and “60 Minutes.” He also acquired her conservative-friendly new startup, The Free Press, for $150 million.
Weiss’ appointment caused a stir among media insiders and raised questions about what effect she’ll have on the straight-news network. She is known for her criticism of the mainstream media, her opinion writing, and her stances on hot-button issues, such as the war in Gaza.
Her memo also comes at a jittery time for employees at CBS News and the rest of Paramount, who are bracing for potential layoffs. Ellison is looking to cut at least $2 billion in costs as part of the merger.
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