A controversial move by Bari Weiss, the new editor-in-chief at CBS News, has sparked an internal debate and prompted a union to step in. But here's where it gets interesting...
The Writers Guild of America East, representing CBS News' broadcast and digital staff, has advised its members to hold off on responding to a memo sent by Weiss. This memo, requesting feedback on work activities and workload, has caused quite a stir.
In a message to its members, the union expressed concern and shared those concerns with the company, demanding more information by Monday. They suggested a wait-and-see approach, encouraging staff to refrain from responding until they could make an informed decision by the Tuesday deadline.
The memo, sent on Friday, asked staff to provide details on their work hours and offer insights on what's working, what needs improvement, and how CBS News can excel. This request has led to internal confusion and speculation, indicating Weiss's intention to bring about change at the legacy news organization.
And this is the part most people miss: the recent $8 billion merger between Paramount Global and Skydance, which closed in August, sparked rumors of Weiss's potential role at CBS News. The official announcement confirming Weiss's leadership position at CBS News came on October 6.
It seems the changes Weiss aims to implement are already causing ripples. The WGA East has questioned the potential consequences of staff responses, asking whether they could lead to disciplinary action or even layoffs. They've also inquired about who will review these responses and how the company plans to utilize the feedback.
So, what do you think? Is this a necessary shake-up or a potential threat to staff stability? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
