CBS News announces more layoffs, will exit radio after nearly 100 years

CBS News had another round of layoffs March 20, 2026, as part of another restructuring that will also see the CBS News Radio division shutter, with all of its employees losing their jobs.

The moves were announced by editor-in-chief Bari Weiss and president Tom Cibrowski, and are reportedly the first that can be directly tied to Paramount Skydance’s new strategic direction outlined by Weiss.

CBS News last went through layoffs in October 2025 and the March 2026 cuts affects around 6% to 7% of the remaining headcount, or about 60 to 70 jobs.

Many of these changes have been officially framed as part of a broader strategy to incorporate different perspectives into content, though it’s hard to ignore that cost-cutting and exiting certain verticals appear to be key parts of the plan as well. 

Paramount Skydance, which took over in 2025, is already holding a large amount of debt and could be facing as much as $80 billion after it buys Warner Bros. Discovery.

“It’s no secret that the news business is changing radically, and that we need to change along with it,” reads a memo co-signed by Weiss and Cibrowski. “New audiences are burgeoning in new places, and we are pressing forward with ambitious plans to grow and invest so that we can be there for them. That means some parts of our newsroom must get smaller to make room for the things we must build to remain competitive.”

As part of the layoffs, the network also announced it is shutting down its radio news service May 22, 2026. 

Around 700 affiliate stations will lose access to CBS News-produced content. It’s not clear how those stations will replace the news updates it had been relying on CBS for.

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While CBS News did indicate that all radio staffers would lose their jobs, it was not clear how many non-radio newsroom jobs might have been affected.

CBS News Radio has been operating since 1927. This latest move by CBS means that ABC News will be the only one of the big three networks still operating a radio news service directly. NBC News previously exited the business but continues to license its name to iHeartMedia. 

CBS News Radio is separate from the network’s wider-reaching radio station portfolio, which it sold to Entercom, now Audacity, in 2017.

ABC News still operates a news radio service despite selling its stations to Citadel Broadcasting in 2007 (it retained Disney and ESPN-branded radio assets). It provides news updates and short newscasts to its affiliates. 

Despite the exodus from terrestrial radio, ABC, CBS and NBC as well as numerous other media companies continue to invest in audio content, largely in the form of podcasts, including repurposing television content as audio-only.

There are also audio news updates and short newscasts distributed via podcast format, some of which also air on traditional FM and AM radio stations. 

Full text of Weiss and Cibrowski’s memo announcing the layoffs:

Good morning,

Today we are reducing the size of our workforce, and employees who are affected will be notified by the end of the day.

We recognize that this is a difficult time for those who will be leaving CBS News. Because these aren’t just names on a list. They are talented, committed colleagues who have been critical to our success. We’ll treat them all with care and respect.

It’s no secret that the news business is changing radically, and that we need to change along with it. New audiences are burgeoning in new places, and we are pressing forward with ambitious plans to grow and invest so that we can be there for them. That means some parts of our newsroom must get smaller to make room for the things we must build to remain competitive.

But these are very hard choices and today is a difficult day.

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This is a tough message to receive at any time, and especially in the middle of an exceptionally intense news cycle. This organization is working its heart out to deliver for our audience. We’re so grateful to all of you, and we thank you for handling this difficult news with compassion.

Bari and Tom

CBS News Radio issued a separate statement focused on the closure of the service, also signed by Weiss and Cibrowski. 

Today, we informed our CBS News Radio team and approximately 700 affiliated stations that we will end the service on May 22, 2026.

Unfortunately, this decision means that all positions within the CBS News Radio team are being eliminated. We understand how difficult this news is for our staff and their colleagues, who have worked side by side with us to cover some of the most significant stories of our time.

While this was a necessary decision, it was not an easy one. A shift in radio station programming strategies, coupled with challenging economic realities, has made it impossible to continue the service. We are sharing this announcement now to fulfill our commitments to our radio partners and affiliates, which require advance notice of the service’s conclusion.

For nearly 100 years, CBS News Radio has delivered original reporting to the nation — from Edward R. Murrow’s World War II reports in London to today’s daily White House updates. Our signature broadcast, “World News Roundup,” remains the longest-running newscast in the country. CBS News Radio served as the foundation for everything we have built since 1927.

The coming weeks will be difficult for the team members who have worked tirelessly at CBS News Radio. We are committed to supporting these valued colleagues with care and respect as we wind down operations. They have been critical to our success and remain treasured friends and professionals. We thank them deeply for their contributions.

Thank you all for your dedication and for the compassion you show one another as we move forward.

Bari and Tom

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