Viewers have seen multiple changes occur at CBS News since the installation of Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief. One program that has been especially impacted is 60 Minutes, with various figures leaving the show. Recently, however, sources have weighed in on why staffers may still support the changes Weiss has brought.
An Insider Claimed That Staffers Noticed A ‘Silver Lining’ To The Changes Happening At 60 Minutes
Weiss, who had no previous experience in broadcast television, was installed in her role at CBS News back in October. At the time, this followed Paramount Skydance’s acquisition of Weiss’s media outlet, The Free Press.
Since then, many headlines have come out concerning the changes made to the network, especially 60 Minutes. While many have been critical of the changes, some sources claim that Weiss has been receiving some internal approval.
An insider recently spoke with New York Magazine and alleged that many staffers see a silver lining in these changes. They also reportedly dislike the negative headlines criticizing the changes to the program.
The source shared, “There’s this public condemnation of what’s going on, but privately and quietly, a lot of us are saying, ‘It’s about f****** time.’ Not for the leadership in the place to go down.”
This Comes Out As 60 Minutes Is Set To Debut Season 59, With Bari Weiss Given A ‘Blank Check’ To Promote It
The insider did make note of the figures who have since been terminated from the show. As they continued, “Tanya [Simon, an executive producer who was fired from the program] was beloved — but she did represent a 60 that wasn’t open to other people. Privately, a lot of correspondents feel like, Huh, maybe my chance is coming now.”
According to the outlet, staffers feel that things could have been handled better. However, they also seemed to understand that the program’s insular culture would have been tough for any new editor-in-chief to break into. An unnamed executive shared, “Tweaking or changing or improving 60 Minutes is like defusing a bomb: You’ve got to move cautiously, and you must avoid cutting the wrong wire, because the thing will blow up in your face.”
Overall, however, insiders felt that broadcast television is going on a downward spiral. As they shared, “The story of CBS is the story of people kicking the can down the road, deferring pain.”
Meanwhile, 60 Minutes is set to debut Season 59 next month. As previously reported, Bari Weiss will have a lot of resources to promote the season, with insiders saying she was given a “blank check.”
What is your reaction to these insiders’ recent shares? Have you been following this story? Are you keeping up with 60 Minutes? 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.
