Picture this: the very foundation of trusted American journalism teetering under the weight of political influence and corporate deals. That's the chilling warning from legendary news anchor Dan Rather, who sees the recent hiring of Bari Weiss as editor in chief at CBS News, coupled with the Skydance-Paramount merger, as a ominous sign of things to come. But here's where it gets controversial – is this a bold step toward balanced reporting, or a dangerous slide into bias? Let's dive in and unpack this story, breaking it down step by step so everyone can follow along, even if you're new to the world of media moguls and newsroom dynamics.
Former CBS Evening News anchor Dan Rather, a towering figure in broadcast journalism, has spoken out on his Substack platform called Steady. He connects the appointment of Bari Weiss to the broader Skydance-Paramount merger, suggesting that the companies caved to demands from the Trump administration to secure approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the government body that regulates media ownership and ensures fair broadcasting practices. For beginners, think of the FCC as the referee in the game of airwaves, making sure no single player dominates unfairly. Rather argues that this deal, along with Weiss's hiring, sends a clear message to everyone – especially the president in the White House – that CBS is no longer operating independently. Instead, it's now guided by a conservative billionaire, David Ellison, who isn't just dipping his toe in the water but exerting significant control.
And this is the part most people miss: Rather highlights the looming layoffs at Paramount, which include CBS News staffers fretting over their job security. Yet, these journalists will now report directly to Weiss, who, as Rather points out, is primarily an opinion writer rather than a seasoned reporter with hands-on experience in gathering and verifying news. This shift raises eyebrows because, in a healthy newsroom, journalists act as guardians of democracy – they cover events objectively, ask tough questions, and hold powerful figures accountable. But under this new structure, Rather warns, staff might constantly second-guess their work. Will their story pitches, scripts, or questions align with Weiss's political leanings? Could anything that challenges Trump's priorities get flagged, edited, or even scrapped entirely? It's a scenario where the fear of scrutiny could stifle the free flow of information, affecting every journalist and every piece of reporting.
Rather doesn't mince words, calling this 'a dark day in the halls of CBS News,' a place once adorned with portraits of trailblazing journalists like Walter Cronkite, Edward R. Murrow, Eric Sevareid, and Charles Collingwood. These pioneers transformed television into a reliable beacon of truth, earning the public's trust through unwavering integrity. Whom and what can we trust now, Rather poignantly asks, in an era where such standards seem under siege?
To add context, Ellison's announcement came on Monday, revealing that Paramount would take over Weiss's website, The Free Press, which is known for its strong pro-Israel stance and critiques of what it calls 'woke' culture – think commentary that challenges progressive social movements. Weiss herself will step into the role of editor in chief at CBS News, despite her background being more in opinion pieces than in the fast-paced world of broadcast news, where deadlines are tight and facts must be double-checked on the fly.
On the day of her hire, Weiss shared a message with her Free Press subscribers, framing the current landscape as a battle against 'illiberalism' – meaning intolerance or authoritarian tendencies – from both the far left and far right. She described an 'America-loathing far left' and a 'history-erasing far right,' arguing that these fringes, while not representing the majority, are gaining undue influence in politics, culture, and media. But here's where it gets really controversial: Rather sees this as a setup for 'bothsidesism,' a term that essentially means pretending both sides of a debate are equally valid, even when they're not. For example, imagine claiming that a factual report on climate change is just as 'biased' as a conspiracy theory denying it – that's the kind of false equivalence Rather is warning against. He argues there's no real balance when one side is led by a figure who, in his view, frequently spreads falsehoods. Weiss's approach, Rather suggests, might create an illusion of fairness through these tactics, but it could undermine genuine journalistic standards.
A spokesperson for Paramount declined to comment, leaving the debate open-ended. As for Rather, now 93, he anchored CBS Evening News from 1981 to 2005. His
