CBS News’ reset raises a hard question: Who is this for?
With all the news — good and bad, but mostly bad — generated by the Tony Dokoupil-led “CBS Evening News,” it’s hard to believe it has only been a week since he took over as anchor. Hand-picked by new CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss — whose own brief tenure has drawn well-deserved criticism — Dokoupil has had a series of questionable moments, from stumbles over which story was airing next to a cringeworthy and bizarre “salute” to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and comments about the anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Dokoupil said on air, “President Trump today accused Democrats of failing to prevent the attack on the Capitol, while House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries accused the president of ‘whitewashing it.’”
Media reporter Oliver Darcy wrote for his Status newsletter, “Dokoupil’s breathtaking both-sides framing of an attack carried out by a mob of ardent Trump followers sparked swift and widespread criticism, both inside and outside CBS News.”
Related Knowledge Center: The CBS submission
Corporate pressure has led to capitulation by CBS News in a number of conflicts with the Trump regime — including its newly ideological coverage philosophy.
Related Knowledge Center: Information integrity
In an increasingly fractured media landscape, truth has been a casualty in the public discussion. Coverage has been warped by the business needs of struggling news organizations, and a significant segment of the public relies on bad-faith outlets that are little more than propagandists. While fact-checking has become routine, some organizations are exploring other ways to combat the trends. And misinformation spewed by AI-driven chatbots has become more of a feature than simply a bug.
Fact-checking and its detractors