Anderson Cooper is reportedly making his feelings known behind the scenes as questions grow over what a Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger could mean for CNN’s future leadership.
The longtime CNN anchor, 59, has privately told colleagues that he “does not want to work for” Bari Weiss, the 42-year-old founder of The Free Press and current CBS News editor-in-chief, should the $110 billion tie-up between the companies’ parent organizations move forward, according to The New York Times.
Paramount’s proposed takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery appears to be gaining momentum. On June 12, the Department of Justice issued an unusual statement saying it would not oppose the deal, concluding that it posed no harm to U.S. consumers.
The merger is now expected to close in September, with approval from the European Commission remaining as the final regulatory hurdle.
Cooper, who has been a fixture at CNN since 2001, recently ended his long-running role at CBS’s 60 Minutes after nearly two decades with the program.
Weiss, widely seen as an outsider to traditional network news, was brought into CBS News in October by then-new Paramount CEO David Ellison.
The Times framed the uncertainty in a Saturday headline that read, “Chaos Came to CBS News. What’s in Store for CNN?” — a reference to the sweeping changes Weiss has pushed at CBS and the unease among some CNN staffers about whether similar disruption could reach their newsroom in September.
Cooper, 59, has reportedly told colleagues he “does not want to work for” CBS News chief Bari Weiss.
Weiss, 42, has made a host of changes at CBS News since her hiring in October, rankling staff and talent
Changes from Weiss have included a complete rework of CBS Evening News, and a bloodbath at 60 Minutes that spurred since-fired correspondent Scott Pelley to accuse her of ‘murdering’ the show.
Two unnamed insiders told Status last month that Cooper’s surprise exit from the newsmagazine was at least in part because of Weiss, a former New York Times opinion writer who amassed a reputation for regular critiques of legacy media.
The Times piece over the weekend warned how Ellison – a 43-year-old former film producer – has not aired any plans for CNN as of yet.
The Daily Mail has approached Paramount for comment.
Weiss responded to claims of editorial interference and bias from Pelley and fellow former correspondent Cecilia Vega last week in a statement to The Wall Street Journal.
‘What’s being called “editorial interference” is in reality the job description of an editor in chief,’ she said.
The piece was a profile on the former CBS Mornings anchor she promoted to serve as the face of her rebrand – and Evening News – Tony Dokoupil.
A May report from Puck suggested unnamed members of Paramount’s ‘senior leadership team’ were holding talks to scale back Weiss’s editorial responsibilities after months of low ratings and moves widely seen as mistakes within the industry.
Paramount – CBS News’ parent company – is set to assume control of CNN and other Warner Bros. Discovery assets
Pictured, the Newsroom at CNN World Headquarters in Georgia. Paramount’s looming takeover likely means cuts within CNN and its own asset CBS News
A Status report on June 10 described her as being ‘holed up’ in a suite on the sixth floor of CBS News’ Manhattan headquarters as fallout from her ongoing overhaul continues.
Several CNN sources told the publication in February how they feared for the future after the Ellisons’ bid for their parent company was accepted, leaving Netflix to bow out.
‘The panic at CNN right now is off the charts,’ one insider said at the time.
One CNN staffer said the company had already lost any credit it had as ‘stewards of a news brand over the last few months’ because of changes made by Weiss.
Ellison and his father Larry are friendly with the Trump administration, which approved the pair’s acquisition of Paramount last year.
Ex-60 Minutes boss Bill Owens and former CBS News CEO Wendy McMahon already left the network ahead of Ellison’s ascent, citing corporate overreach they claimed was already present during Paramount’s merger with Ellison’s Skydance.
Ellison, at the time, articulated a vision of the prime Paramount asset reaching people who are more centrist.
Cooper, meanwhile, said he left CBS to spend more time with his two young children.
Weiss was personally appointed by Paramount CEO David Ellison. He has a vision of the prime Paramount asset reaching people who are more centrist
Paramount’s looming takeover likely means cuts at both CBS News and CNN. The latter, unlike CBS, was able to reach a deal to keep Cooper in December.
During his final 60 Minutes signoff, Cooper stressed the need for the show to retain its independence.
‘And things can always evolve and change, and I think that’s awesome,’ he said.. And things should evolve and change, but I hope the core of what 60 Minutes is always remains.’
