CBS News is in for a seismic shift as Gayle King, the longtime face of CBS Mornings, is reportedly on her way out, as the Daily Mail reports.
The network, under fresh leadership from editor-in-chief Bari Weiss and new ownership by David Ellison’s Skydance, is slashing nearly 100 jobs, axing key units, and facing the potential departure of King when her contract ends in May 2026.
Let’s rewind a bit to set the stage. CBS, a media titan since its founding in 1927, has been navigating choppy waters with CBS Mornings pulling in 1.8 million viewers for the week ending Oct. 20, lagging behind Good Morning America’s 2.71 million and The Today Show’s 2.69 million. King, now 70, has been a steady hand at the helm of the morning show since 2012, through various title changes.
Fast forward to this year, and Paramount, CBS’s parent company, was acquired by David Ellison’s Skydance in an $8 billion deal. This ushered in a new vision, but not without pain. Ellison himself admitted, “In some areas, we are addressing redundancies that have emerged across the organization,” in a note to staff.
That’s corporate speak for slashing jobs -- nearly 100 at CBS News alone, and a staggering 2,000 across Paramount. Entire teams, like the one behind CBS Saturday Morning, including anchors Michelle Miller and Dana Jacobson, and Executive Producer Brian Applegate, have been let go. Streaming editions of CBS Evening News and CBS Mornings are also history.
Then there’s the Race and Culture Unit, established in 2020 to ensure “all stories have the proper context, tone and intention,” according to Paramount. It’s been completely dismantled, a move that raises eyebrows about the network’s priorities. Is this a push for efficiency or a rejection of certain progressive oversight?
Enter Bari Weiss, who’s been editor-in-chief for less than a month and is already making waves. She warned staff of an “enormously difficult” period ahead, and boy, was she right. Her approach, including mandatory training to enforce objectivity, has some insiders whispering about a conservative tilt.
One CBS source told the Daily Mail, “She’s watching every aspect of what we do, critiquing where she thinks we are being more biased.” That kind of scrutiny might be a wake-up call for a network long accused of leaning left, but it’s also got staff “running scared,” as another insider put it.
Weiss’s past comments, like calling out an “overzealous, out-of-touch, hysterical reaction” to certain political figures, suggest she’s not afraid to challenge the status quo. Her leadership style could be the reset CBS needs, or it might alienate those who thrived under the old guard. Time will tell if this is reform or just reshuffling deck chairs.
Amid this storm, Gayle King’s potential exit looms large. Her contract runs through May 2026, but whispers of her departure next year have surfaced, though CBS insists, “There have been no discussions with Gayle about her contract.” That’s a polite non-answer if there ever was one.
King’s value to CBS is undeniable, yet the network’s statement about looking forward to “engaging with her about the future” feels like a diplomatic sidestep. If she walks, it’s not just a loss of a familiar face -- it’s a signal that no one is safe under this new regime.
Other departures are already hitting hard, like John Dickerson’s resignation after 16 years. Dickerson, who recently took over alongside Maurice Dubois after Norah O’Donnell’s exit, also anchored CBS Evening News Plus, now shuttered. It’s a domino effect of change that’s rattling the newsroom.
Inside CBS, the mood is grim, with one insider confessing to the Daily Mail, “everyone is nervous.” That’s no surprise when you’ve got layoffs, unit closures, and a new boss who’s flooding inboxes with memos. This isn’t just restructuring -- it’s a cultural overhaul.
While some might cheer Weiss’s push to balance the scales, others see it as a worrisome pivot, as a Guardian column bluntly stated, “Bari Weiss is a weird and worrisome choice as top editor for CBS News.” Yet, isn’t it fair to ask if the old ways needed a shake-up, especially when viewership trails competitors?
As CBS navigates this turbulent chapter, the question remains: will these cuts and changes rebuild trust and ratings, or will they alienate loyal viewers and talent like King? The road ahead looks bumpy, but if Weiss can steer this ship without capsizing it, she might just prove the doubters wrong. For now, all eyes are on CBS -- and on whether Gayle King stays or goes.
