Dan Rather criticizes CBS News for hiring Barry Weiss as editor-in-chief

Former CBS News anchor Dan Rather CBS News on Thursday criticized its hiring of journalist Barry Weiss as its editor-in-chief, as well as its acquisition of its independent news outlet, The Free Press.

Instead, the 93-year-old argued on his Substack page that the hiring of the anti-Wake correspondent, as well as CBS, had come under the control of billionaire David Ellison — whose father was a friend of the president. Donald Trump – means CBS News will cater to Trump’s agenda.

He added, “The American people will pay the price for this step, as will CBS News journalists who can no longer serve as watchdogs credibly because the people who are supposed to hold them accountable sign their paychecks and communicate with the president.” The journalist wrote.

At one point, he warned: “It’s a dark day in the halls of CBS News.”

FCC approves Paramount and Skydance merger after Trump settlement and Colbert cancellation

Paramount, the parent company of CBS, named Weiss as editor-in-chief of CBS News on Monday following the company’s $150 million acquisition of The Free Press. the Move angry Journalists and liberal media figures, with Vice outlet making waves for challenging DEI, gender ideology, and supporting Israel.

Rather, he questioned Weiss’s credentials.

“The former Wall Street Journal and New York Times opinion writer is not a reporter. She has never worked in television news and has never led a staff of more than a few dozen,” Rather wrote. “That all changed this week when David Ellison, whose Skydance Media subsidiary recently acquired CBS, installed Weiss in a position created for her. She will report not to the head of CBS News — as one might expect — but directly to David Ellison.”

Barry Weiss joins CBS News as editor-in-chief, and Paramount buys free press for $150 million

The former CBS anchor also addressed Weiss’ recent statement that she wants to combat liberalism on the right and left in her new role, criticizing her for going after both sides when one side has Trump.

“While one must keep an open mind, it is difficult to do so when such a statement portends a push toward ‘both sides’ and arguments that rely on false equations. There can be no equations between the two political extremes in this country, especially when one party is led by a man who rarely speaks without lying.”

Weiss’ appointment comes months later Paramount merger with Skydance which led to the appointment of Ellison, former CEO of Skydance, as CEO of the new combined company. In addition to being close to Trump, Ellison’s father, Larry, is a pro-Israel tech mogul worth about $300 billion.

Click here for the latest media and cultural news

Instead, he continued, saying that Weiss’ deal and hiring are “signals to everyone, especially to the man in the Oval Office, that CBS is no longer independent, but under the guardianship of a conservative billionaire who has more than one thumb on the scale.”

He added: “Anything that conflicts with Trump’s agenda may be reported and is unlikely to be broadcast unchanged, if at all. No journalist or his work can remain unaffected by toiling in such an environment.”

“It’s a dark day in the halls of CBS News, where portraits of the pioneers of television news once hung — Cronkite, Murrow, Sevareid, Collingwood. They were journalists who made television a trusted source of information. Who and what should we believe today?” Rather, he asked.

Rather resigned from his role as anchor of the “CBS Evening News” in 2005 and left the network the following year after publishing a distorted story about the then-President. George W. Bush.

CBS News declined to comment on this story. Fox News Digital has also reached out to Paramount.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP