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Scott Jennings may be poised for a new opportunity at CBS News, thanks to the recent appointment of the network’s editor-in-chief, who joined less than a month ago with a mission to revamp the brand.
According to Semafor, Bari Weiss extended an invitation to Jennings for a meeting at the company’s New York City headquarters earlier this week.
At 48, Jennings has carved a niche in right-wing media circles, known for his sharp, incisive debates as a part-time contributor on CNN.
The 41-year-old editor-in-chief also engaged in talks with Bret Baier, a Fox News anchor, to explore the possibility of him taking on the role of host for the channel’s flagship program.
Weiss, who assumed her position on October 6, first met with Baier before arranging her meeting with Jennings.
However, it appears unlikely a deal could be made with Baier, given that he is under contract with Fox News’Â evening broadcast until the end of 2028.
The possible moves come amid uncertainty, as Paramount, the parent company of CBS, is expected to make cuts in the next couple of days, according to Semafor.
Before any layoffs are made, co-anchor John Dickerson announced on Monday that he is leaving CBS.
CBS’s new editor in chief, Bari Weiss met with Pro-Trump commentator Scott Jennings to fill the channel’s prime-time slot
Jennings, 48, has made a name for himself among right-wing media consumers for his cut-throat debating on CNN as a part-time contributor
Dickerson, who has not explained the abrupt exit announced on his Instagram: ‘Local news: At the end of this year, I will leave CBS, sixteen years after I sat in as Face the Nation anchor for the first time.’
‘I am extremely grateful for all that CBS gave me – the work, the audience’s attention and the honor of being a part of the network’s history – and I am grateful for my dear colleagues who’ve made me a better journalist and a better human. I will miss you.’
The 57-year-old began hosting the flagship broadcast alongside co-anchor Maurice DuBois just nine months earlier.
Now, Dickerson’s possible replacement, Jennings, has been sought after not only by CBS but also by the Los Angeles Times, according to the New York Post.
Jennings also served as a staffer for the George W. Bush administration and was an aide to Sen. Mitch McConnell.
Weiss, a former New York Times journalist who ran the anti-woke The Free Press news website, has been given a broad remit by the network’s new owner, David Ellison, to tame liberal excesses at the Tiffany Network in a bid to boost ratings and win back viewers’ trust.
Weiss also met with Fox News anchor Bret Baier a week before her discussion with Jennings as another possible right-wing option
Weiss has been given a broad remit by the network’s new owner, David Ellison, to tame liberal excesses at the Tiffany Network in a bid to boost ratings and win back viewers’ trust
She quit her role as opinion editor at The New York Times in 2020 over the paper’s narrow liberal views and staff bullying of anyone who dared to voice a different opinion.
Weiss began a small news site called Honestly, which later became The Free Press and was sold to Paramount, as part of a $150 million deal.
Problems at Evening News pre-date Weiss’s arrival by months and it is unclear if she is behind Dickerson’s apparent ouster.
CBS Evening news is watched by around 3.6 million viewers nightly – a 14 percent slump compared to the same time last year.
The news network’s president Tom Cibrowski sought to put a positive spin on Dickerson’s departure, saying he ‘epitomizes the very best in journalism.’
Cibrowski added: ‘We’ll have plenty of time to thank him for his work here and honor his contributions to our success.’
It is unclear if DuBois will host Evening News on his own after Dickerson departs.
CBS Mornings star Gayle King is also believed to be in the firing line, with insiders say they expect her departure in the coming months.