In a sweeping overhaul that signals the accelerating shift towards digital-first news, Paramount Global has dismantled CBS News' dedicated digital anchor teams, leaving multiple prominent journalists without positions.
The radical restructuring, confirmed by multiple sources within the company, has seen the elimination of the entire CBS News' digital anchor lineup as the media giant redirects resources towards its streaming platforms.
Digital Division Decimated
Among the high-profile casualties are CBS News' senior national correspondent and digital anchor Elaine Quijano, along with digital anchors Lana Zak, Caitlin Huey-Burns, and Anne-Marie Green. The cuts extend beyond on-air talent to include several producers within the digital division.
This dramatic move comes as Paramount intensifies its focus on streaming services, particularly Paramount+, at the expense of traditional digital news offerings. The company appears to be consolidating its news operations around flagship streaming programming rather than maintaining separate digital teams.
Streaming Takes Priority
Insiders reveal that the restructuring reflects Paramount's strategy to prioritise its streaming platforms where news content is increasingly consumed. The traditional model of dedicated digital anchors producing content primarily for CBS News' website and social media channels has been deemed unsustainable in the current media landscape.
Instead, the company will rely more heavily on its existing television news talent to cross over into digital and streaming content, effectively merging what were previously separate operations.
Industry-Wide Trend
This restructuring at CBS News mirrors broader trends across the media industry as traditional news organisations struggle to adapt to changing consumption patterns. The move away from dedicated digital teams toward integrated streaming operations represents the latest evolution in how major media companies are approaching news delivery.
The cuts come during a period of significant turbulence for Paramount Global, which has been exploring various strategic options including potential mergers or acquisitions while navigating the challenging transition from traditional broadcasting to streaming dominance.
Employees affected by the cuts were notified earlier this week, though the exact number of positions eliminated remains unclear. The move has sent shockwaves through the news division, with many questioning what this means for the future of digital journalism within traditional broadcast networks.
