Journalists Grapple with Uncertainty
The mood is tense at CBS News, where staff members are keenly aware of the changes that might shake up their work environment.
Now part of Paramount Skydance, many workers are on edge, worrying about possible layoffs. Sources close to the situation reveal that there’s also increasing speculation about what comes next for ‘CBS Evening News’, especially given its noticeable ratings drop since shifting to a new format.
Layoffs on the Horizon?
Executives at Skydance hinted earlier this month during a press meeting that they are serious about sticking to their plans to slice $2 billion in costs. As traditional advertising and revenue streams take a hit while viewers turn to streaming, layoffs have indeed become a likely scenario. Jeff Shell, the fresh face leading Skydance, suggested that more information about these changes would hopefully emerge in the upcoming investor report this November.
A Fresh Take on ‘CBS Evening News’
With ‘CBS Evening News’, a potential shakeup is in the air. Plans seem to be in place to tweak the show’s format, shifting away from the dual-anchor approach.
A reliable insider hinted that viewers might soon see one of the main anchors, either John Dickerson or Maurice DuBois, dispatched to cover significant breaking events. Just last week, Dickerson reported straight from Alaska during a notable meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This change could provide an immediate and authoritative perspective both in the studio and on location during urgent news events.
Rethinking the ‘Evening News’
This possible shift adds a new layer to what the show’s aim was. Initially, the goal of this version of ‘Evening News’ centered on deep stories and feature reports. In its launching phase, even seasoned journalists from CBS’s Washington bureau went to examine the impacts of Trump-era policies in various places like Baltimore and Canada. Nonetheless, critics pointed out that some significant headlines were, at times, overlooked.
A format adjustment could breathe new life into ‘Evening News’, marrying the latest headlines with its unique storytelling flair.
Changing Faces Behind the Scenes
Speculation around ‘Evening News’ heightened when news broke that its current executive producer, Guy Campanile, is set to return to ’60 Minutes’. One vision behind reworking ‘Evening News’ was to tap into the essence of ’60 Minutes’, which is known for its headline-generating stories, whether they’re directly tied to current events or not.
However, longtime fans of evening news, who are used to traditional formats that have lasted for years, may not have fully embraced the change. Recent ratings tell the story—about 3.74 million viewers tuned into ‘CBS Evening News’ for the week ending August 4, whereas competitors like ABC’s ‘World News Tonight’ reeled in nearly 6.89 million, and NBC’s ‘NBC Nightly News’ followed with about 5.35 million.
Future Leadership
As CBS hoped their revamped ‘Evening News’ would gain traction following Tom Llamas’s debut at NBC, the reality was that they actually lost a substantial number of viewers after moving away from the format previously featured by Norah O’Donnell.
Kim Harvey, a well-regarded producer with a robust background at CNN, Fox News Channel, and MSNBC, could be eyeing the role behind the scenes for ‘Evening News’. She has an impressive history, including working on MSNBC town halls during the 2016 election cycle and collaborating with notable anchors.
