Viewers have seen a number of shakeups at CBS News since the installation of Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief. Recently, two prominent figures in broadcast journalism weighed in on recent events concerning the network: Katie Couric and Jim Acosta. In fact, they recently reported on a story as it unfolded in real time.
Katie Couric & Jim Acosta Each Have Their Own History With CBS News
Both Acosta and Couric have a background working for CBS News. Acosta worked as a reporter for CBS Newspath in 2001, being promoted to a national CBS News correspondent in 2003. He ultimately left the network for CNN in 2007.
For her part, Couric worked with CBS from 2006 to 2011. During this time, she served as an anchor and managing editor for CBS Evening News. She also contributed to 60 Minutes.
Recently, during an Instagram Live, the two came together in real-time to react to recent news concerning the network, specially 60 Minutes. This was the network’s choice not to renew Sharyn Alfonsi’s contract with the program. This followed her “Inside CECOT” segment being pulled by the program, which some had speculated was due to political influence.
During the video, Acosta shared, “The wheels have come off over at CBS, and Bari Weiss only has herself to blame.” Both appeared to agree that there was some political motivation behind the move, feeling it was done in preparation for Paramount’s merger with Warner Bros. Discovery.
Acosta Also Discussed The Network’s Lack Of Coverage Of President Donald Trump’s Recent China Visit
Acosta continued, “They are doing this as this merger is under the approval process, it’s going through the approval process with the Trump administration, and they don’t care how bad this looks. They’re just, ‘Well, we’re still going to push her out. Because we know we’re going to get this deal, we’re going to get what we want.’ That should worry a lot of people, I think.”
Acosta also took note of Weiss failing to send CBS Evening News‘ Tony Dokoupil to Beijing to cover President Trump’s recent state visit to China. He noted, “So the network news division is not even able to functionally operate anymore if they can’t get an anchor to a major news event like that when the other networks can.”
For her part, Couric felt the main issue at hand was that Weiss didn’t have prior experience with broadcast journalism before being given her current role at the network. She shared, “I think part of the problem was that Bari Weiss has never run a network news division. She is woefully unprepared for this job.”
Couric and Acosta’s discussion took place one day before Weiss hired tech journalist Nick Bilton to serve as 60 Minutes‘ executive producer. This came out as Tanya Simon was ousted from the role after 30 years.
What is your reaction to Katie Couric and Jim Acosta’s recent discussion? Have you been following this story? Make sure you come back to TV Shows Ace for all the latest TV and celebrity news.
John Witiw has been a writer since at least 2015. He’s covered a variety of topics, especially when it comes to film and television.
