Key facts
- David Ellison is nearing a deal to merge CBS News and CNN.
- The potential merger would place both news organizations under the same ownership.
- Scott Pelley, a longtime 60 Minutes correspondent, was fired.
- Javier Guzman, a senior producer for CBS Evening News, was also dismissed.
- Bari Weiss, editor-in-chief of CBS News, has overseen recent staff changes and program overhauls.
David Ellison, son of tech billionaire Larry Ellison, is reportedly close to finalizing a merger that would bring CBS News and CNN under common ownership. This potential consolidation follows a period of significant upheaval and staff changes within CBS News.
Recent turmoil at CBS News includes the dismissal of longtime 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley. Pelley was fired after confronting new executive producer Nick Bilton, accusing editor-in-chief Bari Weiss of "murdering" the program and questioning the dismissal of four senior colleagues. Weiss stated Pelley broke trust, while Pelley accused Weiss of lying and instructing him to inject bias into stories.
Further chaos has engulfed the CBS Evening News, with the firing of senior broadcast producer Javier Guzman. Guzman was reportedly accused of undermining executive producer Kim Harvey during the rollout of new anchor Tony Dokoupil. Staffers expressed emotion and sought rationale for Guzman's dismissal, which came after eight years with the program.
Bari Weiss, who was appointed editor-in-chief after Ellison acquired Paramount, has been implementing changes aimed at modernizing CBS News. Her vision emphasizes moving beyond traditional broadcast television to adapt to the evolving media landscape. Earlier, Weiss had temporarily shelved a segment on a Salvadoran prison, a decision correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi believed was politically motivated, though Weiss stated the story needed further reporting.