The union representing CBS News journalists has told employees they will not face repercussions for ignoring a memo from new boss Bari Weiss requesting details about their work duties, The Post has learned.
In a message obtained by The Post, the Writers Guild of America East told staff: “CBS has informed us that you will not be disciplined if you do not respond to the email, indicating that a response is optional.”
The union added that any replies will not be used as “a basis for discipline, discharge, or layoff.”
Bari Weiss sent a memo to CBS News staffers on Friday asking them to outline their work duties.
Representatives for CBS News, Paramount, and the Writers Guild of America East did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Post. It also remains unclear whether Weiss or other CBS management directly informed staff that responding to the memo was optional.
The network experienced “mass confusion” this week as employees received conflicting instructions on whether to reply, according to Variety. Just hours after Weiss sent the memo, the WGA advised union staffers to ignore it.
At the same time, some CBS News producers instructed journalists to respond to the message, three people familiar with the situation told Variety. Some of these producers, who are not covered by a union contract, may have felt pressure to align with Weiss, the report added.
David Ellison, CEO of Paramount Skydance, which owns CBS News, announced Weiss’ new role last week, alongside the company’s $150 million acquisition of her contrarian news site, The Free Press.
The move came as a surprise to many at the network. Weiss, a pro-Israel, anti-“woke” journalist who previously wrote as an opinion columnist for The New York Times, has no prior experience running a major news network.
The 41-year-old, who officially began her top role on Monday, told staff in a memo that she wanted “to understand how you spend your working hours — and ideally, what you’ve made (or are making) that you are most proud of,” according to Variety.
More shake-ups are expected at CBS News as the network searches for new anchors for its evening news program.
Weiss’ memo quickly drew comparisons to Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, which earlier this year requested weekly updates from employees on their accomplishments before cutting 300,000 federal positions.
Network employees are reportedly anxious about potential layoffs, as CBS programming continues to lag behind rival morning and evening news shows from NBC and ABC.
Despite this, Weiss emphasized that she wanted to listen, polling staff for “your views on what’s working; what’s broken or substandard; and how we can be better,” according to Variety.
CBS News has already experienced significant changes since the FCC approved parent company Paramount’s $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media, placing billionaire David Ellison — son of Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison — at the helm.
Additional shake-ups are anticipated. Norah O’Donnell, who stepped down as host of “CBS Evening News” earlier this year, has reportedly emerged as a contender to reclaim the anchor seat, The Post exclusively reported. Former President Donald Trump weighed in on the speculation, telling reporters: “So who’s going to be the head anchor at CBS? Not Norah O’Donnell. I don’t believe it.”
