Apparently you can ignore the memo.
CBS will not face disciplinary action against CBS News staffers unless they respond to a highly scrutinized message sent last week by CBS News’ new editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss, according to the Writers Guild of America East, the union that represents many of the company’s employees.
According to a message from the union to members reviewed by Variety, CBS “informed members that they would not be disciplined if they did not respond to the email and indicated that responding was voluntary. The company also stated that if they chose to respond, it would not be grounds for discipline, dismissal, or dismissal.” “We will not respond to such responses.”
CBS News declined to request comment from executives.
CBS News staffers have been grappling with conflicting orders since Mr. Weiss sent a message after some producers in the Paramount Skydance news division urged reporters and journalists to take action despite WGA criticism, three people familiar with the matter said. Weiss asked her staff to tell her “how they spend their time” and what they think about CBS News in order to “align on achieving a shared vision for CBS News” with the editorial staff.
Normally, a simple memo from a senior executive wouldn’t cause such a firestorm, but Weiss is no ordinary newsreader. She was appointed editor-in-chief of CBS News last week by Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison, and the CBS News staff is reeling in the aftermath. Weiss, a digital entrepreneur and opinion writer who founded Free Press, has no experience running a mainstream TV news outlet and little experience helping traditional journalists overcome the challenges of finding facts. She is directly related to Mr. Ellison, and Tom Cibrowski, a former ABC executive who became president of CBS News earlier this year, has been tasked with working with Mr. Weiss and lending his expertise.
The Paramount news drama comes as most employees fear losing their jobs. Paramount executives have said they intend to significantly reduce their workforce to cut costs. Details of the layoffs are expected to be revealed in Paramount’s next financial report.
CBS told the union that employees’ responses to Mr. Weiss should not be used to foment opposition against respondents. “While it is intended that only Bari Weiss and her chief of staff will see the answers, they may be obligated to share them with other senior executives,” CBS said. The company also noted that Weiss’ purpose in soliciting employee responses was simply “to get to know our employees and to use them as a guide for discussions as we meet with employees as time permits in the coming weeks and months.”
