WGA Advises CBS News Staff to Withhold Responses to Bari Weiss’s Inquiry Pending Clarification from Company

The Writers Guild of America (WGA), representing a significant cohort of CBS News employees, issued a directive this week cautioning staff not to respond to an internal email from Bari Weiss, the newly named editor-in-chief of CBS News, until the company provides additional details on the nature and intended use of the information being solicited. This union action arrives just days after Paramount Skydance’s acquisition of The Free Press — the independent media outlet founded by Weiss — in a $150 million deal that positioned her at the helm of CBS News’s editorial operations .

The WGA’s communication to CBS News staffers specifically referenced an email from Weiss requesting information from employees. The union emphasized the importance of understanding whether any responses to Weiss’s inquiry could be used as “a basis for discipline, discharge, or layoff.” In light of these uncertainties, the WGA advised its represented members to withhold reply until CBS News leadership clarifies the purpose of Weiss’s outreach and guarantees protection against any potential negative employment consequences .

The WGA’s guidance underscores the union’s role in advocating for transparency and safeguarding the rights of employees amid significant changes in newsroom leadership. The union’s move is a standard protective measure in situations where staff communications may have implications for job security or workplace discipline.

Bari Weiss, known for founding The Free Press and her prior work at major outlets including The New York Times, has been a polarizing figure in contemporary media discourse. Her leadership style and editorial priorities have often centered on free speech debates and coverage of contentious cultural and political issues. The Free Press’s acquisition by Paramount Skydance and Weiss’s subsequent appointment at CBS News have prompted industry speculation about potential shifts in the network’s editorial direction and internal culture .

As editor-in-chief, Weiss now holds significant influence over CBS News’s editorial operations. Her recent email outreach to staff has raised concerns among some employees and union representatives, particularly regarding how information collected might be used and whether it could affect employment status or newsroom roles.

This episode highlights the critical role unions play in media organizations, especially during periods of transition. The WGA’s insistence on clear communication and defined protections is consistent with broader labor advocacy trends seen across U.S. newsrooms. In recent years, unionized journalists and staffers have increasingly called for transparency around management decisions, especially those affecting job security, editorial independence, and workplace inclusion.

For LGBTQ+ journalists and other marginalized newsroom staff, these protections are particularly salient. Inclusive and transparent management practices are essential to ensuring that all employees — including transgender people, nonbinary individuals, and other LGBTQ+ staffers — feel secure and respected in the workplace. The WGA’s intervention can be seen as a proactive measure to uphold these standards and to prevent any inadvertent negative consequences that could disproportionately affect vulnerable groups.

The arrival of a new editorial leader and the integration of a previously independent media outlet into a major network have far-reaching implications for workplace culture and diversity efforts. LGBTQ+ advocates and employee resource groups within CBS News will be closely watching how leadership transitions are managed, ensuring that transparency and equitable treatment remain central priorities.

The WGA’s advocacy for clarity and employee protections is aligned with best practices in supporting diverse newsroom environments. Ensuring that all staff, including LGBTQ+ employees, are fully informed about the implications of management communications is critical for maintaining trust and fostering an inclusive, respectful workplace.

As of this report, CBS News has not yet issued a public response to the WGA’s directive or clarified the intended purpose of Bari Weiss’s information-seeking email. Industry observers note that how CBS addresses the union’s concerns may set important precedents for labor relations at other major news organizations navigating similar leadership or ownership changes.

The intersection of union advocacy, editorial change, and the ongoing push for diversity and inclusion in newsrooms remains a focal point as CBS News staff — and the broader industry — await further clarity from management.