CBS News Radio Staffer Criticizes Bari Weiss for Shutting Down 99-Year-Old Institution

A longtime staffer and contributor has voiced strong criticism regarding CBS News' decision to eliminate its radio division, a 99-year-old institution.

Larry Magid, who contributed to CBS News Radio for over two decades before transitioning to a contributor role in 2020, called the move illogical. He suggested that Weiss, who took the helm at CBS News, may not fully grasp the value of traditional broadcast media, prioritizing other platforms like podcasts or blogs.

“She definitely does not care about traditional media,” Magid stated. “She may care about podcasting. She may care about blogging. But it doesn’t strike me that she has a real understanding of the value of traditional broadcast.”

The CBS News Radio division, despite representing a small fraction of the network's overall budget, reached an estimated 20 million listeners weekly. This audience far surpasses that of the network's "Evening News With Tony Dokoupil," which garners under 4 million viewers.

While reports from The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times have suggested CBS News as a whole is unprofitable, with one executive citing monthly revenues as low as $67,000, Magid disputes the idea that the radio division was a financial drain. "I’m told that it actually made some money, that it wasn’t a losing proposition,” he said. “Even if it made a dime, as a public service, to kill it, it doesn’t make sense.”

Magid recorded his final segment for CBS News Radio on May 22. He expressed devastation at the division's closure, but he has since launched a new independent distribution network for his "ConnectSafely Report." The twice-weekly, one-minute feature on online safety, privacy, security, and AI has continued without interruption. Fifteen stations, including those in major markets like Boston, Chicago, and Washington, now carry the program, with more expected to join.

Nielsen reports indicate that radio continues to be a dominant media platform, reaching 93% of all U.S. adults monthly. This reach spans across demographics, including 93% of Black consumers and 94% of Hispanic consumers, and 89% of the 18-34 age group.

Magid also noted the significant reduction in the division's physical space. He described the once expansive newsroom, which Walter Cronkite used in earlier days, being reduced to a small bedroom-sized room before its closure. He contrasted this with his current home studio setup in the Bay Area.