Bari Weiss, editor-in-chief of CBS News, is attempting to revive the network's credibility amid a crisis of trust in American journalism. Her efforts have drawn sharp criticism from former "60 Minutes" correspondent Scott Pelley, who was fired and publicly accused Weiss of undermining the network. Pelley allegedly said, "She's murdering 60 Minutes. She does not love this place. She was brought in to kill it and is doing exactly that." He also claimed Weiss inserted political spin into reporting, an ironic charge given her stated concern about existing political bias in the newsroom.
Public trust in news media has eroded significantly
According to a June 2025 Pew Research Center survey, only Fox News was trusted by a majority of Republicans (56%). CBS News was trusted by 56% of Democrats but just 23% of Republicans, with similar results for ABC News, NBC News, and CNN. AllSides, which rates media bias, tags CBS News as "lean left" with high confidence, noting a slight leftward shift from -1.5 to -1.69 after reviews in December 2025 and January 2026.
"Why do you think so? Do you have a poll? Is there market research? What are you talking about?" Pelley responded dismissively to Weiss's claim of perceived bias. Pelley's skepticism contrasts with independent assessments that confirm CBS News leans left.
CBS News viewership has declined sharply over decades
The erosion of trust has contributed to a steep drop in audience. In 1980, "CBS Evening News" averaged 15.9 million viewers. That fell to 7.1 million in 2000, 4.7 million in 2014, and just over 4.2 million in the first quarter of 2026. While most major news outlets face similar declines, Weiss, who previously built The Free Press into a significant media force, is now responsible for reversing CBS News's fortunes.
"We are not producing a product that enough people want," Weiss told CBS News staff in January 2026. "Not enough people trust us. Not you. Us. As in: the mainstream media. We can debate why that is, but the numbers tell the story."
Weiss faces institutional resistance in her reform efforts
Pelley's public outburst after his firing reflects the institutional backlash Weiss encounters. Rumors also suggest she may soon take on a role at CNN, but whether she can succeed at CBS News remains uncertain. The network's left-leaning reputation and declining viewership present formidable challenges. Weiss deserves credit for attempting to address the trust deficit, but the outcome is far from guaranteed.
