CBS News boss Bari Weiss poised to oversee CNN editorial ops
Bari Weiss is set to extend her editorial control to CNN in addition to CBS News once Paramount Skydance completes its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, with executives seeking a business partner.
As New York Post reports, Paramount executives have initiated preliminary conversations with several high-profile candidates who would manage business operations alongside Weiss, allowing her to concentrate on editorial direction across both news networks.
The short list of potential partners includes notable figures from the broadcast news industry. Current CNN CEO Mark Thompson, NBCUniversal News Group chairman Cesar Conde, and former NBC News chief Noah Oppenheim are all under consideration. Ben Sherwood, who currently leads the Daily Beast, and former CBS News president David Rhodes are also being evaluated for the role.
The candidate search suggests that Weiss will assume full editorial control over CNN’s news operations once the merger receives final approval, representing a dramatic expansion of influence for the 42-year-old journalist less than twelve months after she took the reins at CBS News.
Ellison’s Confidence in Weiss Remains Firm
According to sources, Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison maintains unwavering support for Weiss despite recent turbulence at CBS News. The Paramount brass loves Bari Weiss, an insider told Axios, adding that she has been directly involved in identifying potential business-side partners.
Weiss reports directly to Ellison under the current organizational structure, while CBS News president Tom Cibrowski answers to Paramount television chief George Cheeks. The unconventional reporting arrangement reflects the confidence Ellison has placed in Weiss to reshape news operations at the legacy network.
All four candidates being considered possess extensive experience managing large-scale news organizations, a credential set that contrasts with Weiss’s background primarily in print and digital journalism rather than television news management.
Turbulent Tenure at CBS News
Weiss was installed as CBS News editor-in-chief following Skydance’s merger with Paramount last year. Her leadership has already generated significant controversy, particularly at the venerable newsmagazine program “60 Minutes.”
Last month, Weiss dismissed the show’s executive producer Tanya Simon along with two correspondents, Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega. She subsequently appointed Nick Bilton, a technology reporter with bylines at Vanity Fair and the New York Times, as the program’s new executive producer.
The shakeup triggered further fallout when veteran correspondent Scott Pelley was terminated last week after confronting Bilton over the dismissals. The show’s remaining correspondents—Lesley Stahl, Jon Wertheim, and Bill Whitaker—announced they would continue with the program while publicly criticizing management’s handling of personnel decisions.
Massive Merger Awaits Regulatory Clearance
Paramount Skydance’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery has yet to close. The approximately 110 billion dollar transaction is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and potential legal challenges.
Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders have already voted to approve the deal. However, the merger still faces examination from antitrust regulators and California Attorney General Rob Bonta, whose office has confirmed it is reviewing the transaction.
Last month, reports surfaced suggesting Paramount executives were considering reducing Weiss’s responsibilities and bringing in a more experienced manager for business operations. A Paramount spokesperson denied those claims at the time.
CNN representatives declined to comment on the matter.
With information from New York Post
