Jeff Zucker has overtly praised Bari Weiss’ expertise prior to now.The Free Press/YouTube, MEGA
As Bari Weiss ready to make the soar from print and on-line journalism to take over because the boss of CBS News, she sought out recommendation from one of many business’s former titans, RadarOnline.com can reveal.
Weiss “enlisted the expertise” of Jeff Zucker, who was credited as a wunderkind for serving to NBC‘s Today present develop into a rankings juggernaut earlier than shifting up the ranks on the community. He then served as president of NCS from 2013 to 2022, resigning after failing to disclose a romantic relationship with a feminine colleague on the community.
Jeff Zucker Wants ‘a Way in’ at CBS News
Jeff Zucker spent 9 years as president of NCS after a lengthy profession at NBC.MEGA
Zucker is at the moment serving as the pinnacle of RedBird IMI, specializing in world media, leisure and sports activities investments, however is reportedly angling to return to the community information grind, according to Page Six Hollywood.
“He wanted to find a way to get in, and she definitely had conversations with him, asking advice,” an insider with information of the talks instructed the outlet.
Zucker and Weiss are longtime buddies, and he was one in every of The Free Press’ loudest cheerleaders. In 2022, Weiss turned her Substack publication into an impartial on-line media firm after beforehand working as an opinion web page author and editor on the New York Times.
Weiss bought the corporate in 2025 to Paramount Skydance, whose proprietor, David Ellison, was so impressed by her that he appointed her head of CBS News after shopping for the corporate.
Jeff Zucker Is a Longtime Friend and Fan of Bari Weiss
Jeff Weiss beforehand praised Bari Weiss’ work at The Free Press.The Free Press/YouTube
“She’s just unafraid, and I think that confidence scares a lot of people,” Zucker raved about Weiss in 2024. His son even revealed materials as a freelance author for The Free Press below Weiss’ tenure.
The former media titan praised her means to look past the coastal elites and Washington, D.C., Beltway insiders, gushing that Weiss has a expertise for getting a learn on “how a huge swath of this country feels.”
It was Weiss’ anti-woke viewpoints that caught Ellison’s eye and have been one of many key causes he introduced her to steer the left-leaning information division again in direction of the center of the highway.
Bari Weiss Could ‘Blend Well’ With Jeff Zucker
Jeff Zucker labored his manner up from subject producer to govt producer of NBC’s Today, a place he held from 1992 by way of 2000. MEGA
The outlet identified that Zucker would carry a number of benefits if he joined Weiss at CBS News.
Many of her most vocal opponents have been massive supporters of the previous NCS boss, particularly these on the cable information community that would quickly be owned by Paramount Skydance if it is deliberate acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery goes by way of.
The insiders mentioned getting Zucker aboard would function a “third rail” for Ellison as he seeks authorities approval of the acquisition, with the favored former cable information chief as a part of his workforce.
“David doesn’t want big personalities that are ego-driven, that have their own agendas,” a totally different supply mentioned about Ellison hiring Zucker.
“Look at the team he has built. There’s none of that. He wants to bring people together who blend well. Bari blends well,” the spy noticed in regards to the billionaire’s present workforce.
Bari Weiss Is ‘Surrounded by Sycophants’ at CBS News
Bari Weiss was introduced in to rid CBS News of it is ‘woke’ leanings.The Free Press/YouTube
One CBS News insider complained that Weiss has surrounded herself solely with “yes” women and men since coming aboard as president of the division. Zucker, being a main fan of the previous Wall Street Journal opinion web page author, would do little to shake issues up.
“She’s surrounded herself with sycophants, and it’s not serving to her trigger,” the supply blabbed.
Ellison has no drawback with that, as he is satisfied he made the right hire with Weiss.
“He has no points with Bari. He thinks you’ve got bought to break glass and that the information media coming after her is loopy,” the supply mentioned.