‘CBS Evening News’: Tony Dokoupil Takes Hit as Top Staffers Quit Amid Shakeup
What To Know
- At least six producers and a total of 11 staffers have accepted buyouts at CBS News amid impending layoffs.
- The departures follow the recent appointment of Tony Dokoupil as anchor of CBS Evening News.
- Since Dokoupil took over in January, CBS Evening News ratings have continued to decline.
CBS Evening News is reeling from more behind-the-scenes drama, with at least six producers reportedly accepting buyouts ahead of looming layoffs.
According to the New York Post, 11 staffers opted for buyouts, including six producers from CBS Evening News. A source familiar with the matter told the outlet, “Seems like people are jumping ship.” The buyouts were only offered to non-unionized employees.
The exodus comes just weeks after CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss appointed former CBS Mornings co-host Tony Dokoupil as the new anchor of CBS Evening News. Weiss and Dokoupil have both faced criticism from certain circles for trying to appease the Trump administration.
Since Dokoupil took over from John Dickerson and Maurice Dubois on January 5, the Evening News ratings have taken a hit. The latest numbers, for the week of January 26, showed the broadcast down 7% in total viewers and 8% in the 25-54 demo compared to the week prior. The numbers were also lower than the same period last year.
Weiss held a townhall meeting with CBS News employees in January, during which she outlined her vision for the network. She also made it clear that people were free to leave if they didn’t believe in her strategy.
“It’s a free country, and I completely respect if you decide I’m not the right leader for you, or this isn’t the right place at the right time,” she said, per the Post.
In an email to CBS Evening News staffers last month, non-unionized employees were offered “an extraordinary chance to leave CBS News with an enhanced separation payment.”
“The Evening News has a new host and a new direction, and there will be more change coming. We hope you are excited about this vision, but we understand that some of you may not be, and we want to provide support,” the email read.
CBS Evening News With Tony Dokoupil, Weeknights, 6:30/5:30c, CBS
Conversation17 Comments
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Usual far right tacticts, buy news media to convert them in propaganda outlets.
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Gorge? Maybe get your best candidate, Tim Waltz...is he in jail? To give the Biden news update? Impartial, no doubt!
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... what?
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K
Always watched CBS morning for years since they’ve changed it up I now watched the Today show. I will not be watching CBS mornings anymore. You’ve ruined the CBS stations by changing it up! 😡
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D
I don’t see one thing wrong with how Tony does the news. What’s the deal?
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I'm sure he's mostly okay, but the pandering to the conservatives is out front and center, as if they had been aggrieved under the previous leadership. He literally also blasted Conkrite, which is basically blasphemous.
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U did Tony dirty..he's the reason I switched off from
GMA..2 much Disney take over..Tony was a refreshing match for Gayle and Nate liked them.as a 3some
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We loved Tony on CBS morning show now that he is on the evening news we still love him also we still watch the morning show not sure why they changed the show line up even the weekend show what’s the problem just report the news fair and balanced you can’t please everyone
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CBS boycotted in my family. Enjoy your circle jerks over there
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No one on CBS has any Back bone to step up to TRUMP. Let him sue its our money anyway he has no money that why selling gold tennis shoes and now his RX, he is a joke.
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Don't understand the beef about the evening news when they allow shows like the View to continue on
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So making CBS news less biased is seen as appeasing Trump. Got it.
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see b s
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I think Tony is a great anchor to watch and more engaging then the last duo. He looks to be a solid journalist and he doesn't seem to be the architect of decisions like the one to kill the 60 Minutes piece. I hope he's not the scapegoat.
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Dokoupil’s commentary is framed in unusually positive language about President Trump’s events — for example describing Trump’s State of the Union address as “extraordinary,” “historic,” or highlighting its energy in ways that some commentators saw as uncritically laudatory rather than evaluative. Also language like "Marco Rubio, we salute you".
When interviewing Trump, critics note instances where the line of questioning didn’t significantly challenge his claims. For instance, during a sit-down in Michigan, Trump directly claimed Dokoupil owed his job to Trump’s election victory; while Dokoupil asked for clarification, some observers felt the interview didn’t push back forcefully on that assertion.
There is a broader context of CBS appeasing Trump. CBS ended Colbert's show. They blocked a gues interview with a Texas Democrat due to concerns about upsetting Trump. Paramount settling a bogus lawsuit brought by Trump against “60 Minutes”.
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According to the most recent gallop poll 72% of adult Americans don't trust the media. And, 92% don't completey trust them. So what does that say? It say the media is biased!!! That said, what difference does it make who you watch on the main stream media. It's all the same left wing propaganda. With all the investigative journalism going on why don't they investigate this? I guess then they'll have to take a look at themselves and that they don't want to do!!!
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I love Tony all news and…. Most It’s entertainment, not sherry!
Tony is refreshing and true
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