New CBS Evening News Anchor Tony Dokoupil Claims He’ll Be ‘More Accountable Than Cronkite,’ Denies Bari Weiss Wrote Message Criticizing Legacy Media: ‘Writing Is My First Form’
Tony Dokoupil, Bari Weiss‘ pick to try to turn around the ratings-challenged “CBS Evening News,” vowed that the nightly news program he will anchor starting next week will be “more accountable and more transparent” than under legendary broadcast journalist Walter Cronkite.
On Thursday, Jan. 1, Dokoupil shared his views on the state of journalism — and how “CBS Evening News” will be different with him as anchor.
“People do not trust us like they used to,” Dokoupil said in a video uploaded to social media and the outlet’s website. “On too many stories, the press has missed the story. And it’s not just us. It’s all of legacy media. Because we’ve taken into account the perspective of advocates, and not the average American. Or we put too much weight in the analysis of academics, or elites, and not enough on you.”
He continued, “And I know this because, at certain points, I have been you. I have felt this way too. I have felt like what I was seeing and hearing on the news didn’t reflect what I was seeing and hearing in my own life. And that the most urgent questions simply weren’t being asked.”
Dokoupil’s message was met with a healthy dose of skepticism and some scorn — and he responded directly to several critics on his Instagram account, as highlighted by Guardian media reporter Jeremy Barr.
One commenter wrote, “I grew up on Cronkite. Too bad CBS has lost its Tiffany shine. But good luck to you anyway.” Dokoupil responded, “What did you love most about him? I can promise you we’ll be more accountable and more transparent than Cronkite or any one else of his era.”
Don Dahler, a journalist who is a former CBS News correspondent, posted, “Tony, you know I have enormous respect and affection for you. I know you’re a solid journalist and legitimate heir to the big desk at CBS-News. But this sounds like it was written by Bari Weiss.” Dokoupil responded, “nope, I wrote it. I spent the first half of my career as a print journalist. If the Internet had never been invented, I probably still would be a print journalist. Writing is my first form.”
Bravo host Andy Cohen also commented on Dokoupil’s post: “Listening too much to experts? Wtf.” To that, Dokoupil replied, “Andy, I love ya. But can you really not think of any examples where academic advice turned out narrow or bad? I basically gave you a multiple-choice list. It’s possible you were living outside or above the issues I mention.”
Dokoupil in his post original post said viewers have questioned CBS News’ coverage of topics like “NAFTA or the Iraq War”; “Hillary Clinton’s emails or Russiagate”; and “more recently, COVID lockdowns, Hunter Biden’s laptop or the president’s fitness for office.”
Meanwhile, another commenter wrote on Dokoupil’s post, “I have very little faith that this is true. We watched your company twist itself into a knot to make itself attractive to it’s [sic] new parent company. I doubt you will be permitted to share the news in an unbiased way. You will show stories of everyday Americans who fight against addiction, job loss, etc. but the policy decisions contributing to their plight will stay in the background. Call me doubting Thomas, show me that I’m wrong.” To that, Dokoupil responded: “Hey, I hear ya. They’re just words right now. But hold me to them.”
One of the most-liked comments on the Dokoupil New Year’s Day post was: “Too late… Bari Weiss has destroyed this network.” Another commenter wrote, “Absolutely fucking insane to basically say ‘we’re going to dumb this down because facts coming from academia are uncomfortable for you.’”
Dokoupil was appointed anchor of “CBS Evening News” last month by Weiss, the editor in chief of CBS News and founder of The Free Press. Paramount Skydance acquired The Free Press in a reported $150 million deal and installed Weiss to oversee CBS News’ editorial operations in what CEO David Ellison said was an effort to restore viewers’ trust in the outlet.
On Friday, “CBS Evening News” released “five simple principles” guiding its coverage. One of those, according to CBS News, is “We love America,” explaining that the country’s “foundational values of liberty, equality and the rule of law make us the last best hope on Earth.”
RELATED: CBS Evening News Says ‘We Love America’ Is Now One of Its Guiding Principles