CBS News to Cut 6% of Staff and Shut Down CBS News Radio in May
CBS News has announced layoffs expected to affect about 6% of its workforce and will shut down CBS News Radio on May 22, 2026, ending nearly a century of network radio news service to roughly 700 affiliated stations. In internal memos obtained by Fox News Digital, editor‑in‑chief Bari Weiss and CBS News president Tom Cibrowski told staff the cuts will hit “dozens” of employees across the newsroom and said “all positions” on the CBS News Radio team are being eliminated as the network reallocates resources toward new formats and audiences. The move follows parent company Paramount’s 2025 layoffs that cut about 1,000 jobs company‑wide and a recent buyout round at "CBS Evening News" that about 11 staffers accepted, underscoring ongoing financial and strategic pressure on traditional TV news operations. CBS has been in flux under new Paramount owner David Ellison, who installed Weiss, bought her outlet The Free Press for $150 million, and presided over high‑profile departures including "60 Minutes" correspondent Anderson Cooper while retaining marquee talent like "CBS Mornings" co‑host Gayle King. Taken together, the cuts and the closure of CBS News Radio signal a deeper restructuring of how the network will produce and distribute news, and raise questions about what fills the gap for hundreds of local stations that have long relied on CBS-branded radio newscasts.
📌 Key Facts
- CBS News is cutting roughly 6% of its workforce in layoffs announced Friday.
- CBS News Radio will end service on May 22, 2026, with all radio team positions eliminated and about 700 affiliate stations affected.
- The changes come after Paramount’s 2025 layoffs of roughly 1,000 employees and a 2026 buyout program at "CBS Evening News."
- New Paramount owner David Ellison installed Bari Weiss as CBS News editor‑in‑chief and acquired her outlet The Free Press for $150 million, amid broader leadership and talent turnover at the network.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2023, people of color held majority ownership in only 5% of commercial broadcast stations in the US, compared to Whites at 74%, with Hispanics at 6% and African Americans at 3%.
FCC Biennial Ownership Report Finds Women, Minorities Control More Noncommercial Stations — Insideradio
The Telecommunications Act of 1996 led to media consolidation by eliminating national ownership caps, resulting in decreased minority ownership in broadcast media.
Telecommunications Act of 1996 | Communication and Mass Media — EBSCO
In 2025, 15% of top editors in major US news outlets were people of color, down from 29% in 2024, compared to 42% people of color in the general US population.
Race and leadership in the news media 2025: Evidence from five markets — Reuters Institute
In 2025, journalists of color comprised 16.6% of the US journalism workforce, with higher proportions in online-only newsrooms at 24.3%.
Survey History — American Press Institute
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