CBS Evening News has announced 'five simple principles' to guide the broadcast as Tony Dokoupil prepares to debut as anchor on Monday. Dokoupil, previously a co-host on CBS Mornings, becomes the sixth anchor of the newscast in ten years. The revamp is a priority for Bari Weiss, founder of The Free Press, who was appointed to lead the news division in October.
In a video released Thursday, Dokoupil addressed trust issues, stating that 'on too many stories the press has missed the story. Because we’ve taken into account the perspective of advocates and not the average American. Or we put too much weight in the analysis of academics or elites and not enough on you.' He promised that viewers come first, not advertisers, politicians, corporate interests, or the corporate owners of CBS.
Dokoupil takes the anchor chair amid scrutiny over Weiss and new Paramount CEO David Ellison. Paramount's parent company is pursuing a hostile bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, requiring Trump administration approval. Critics suspect the owners are moving the news division rightward to please President Trump. As part of Skydance's acquisition of Paramount, an ombudsman was hired to handle complaints: Kenneth R. Weinstein, former president of the right-leaning Hudson Institute.
Weiss recently sparked controversy by pulling a completed 60 Minutes segment about migrants sent by the Trump administration to an El Salvadoran prison. Weiss said the segment was 'not ready' and needed to get principals on record. Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi argued that the government's refusal to participate should not kill the story, calling the decision 'political' and corporate interference. The segment has not aired.
