Paramount Skydance enacted widespread layoffs last week, affecting hundreds at CBS News. More names have emerged in recent days of those who are no longer with the organization.
After previously sharing that Dana Jacobson and Michelle Miller would exit, as well as companion streaming shows for CBS Evening News and CBS Mornings were cut, names from both the network level and from the CBS owned-and-operated stations locally have been released.
Lisa Ling, who worked as a contributor to the network, shared in a post on social media that she had been one of the hundreds who saw their positions eliminated.
“So yesterday, I got a call from CBS that I was among the massive layoffs at the network,” Ling said. “Now this didn’t entirely surprise me, because I wasn’t a full-time employee, but rather a contributor, and we’re easy to cut.”
She had joined CBS News in 2023 after her time working with CNN ended.
Deborah Patta, who reported out of the network’s Johannesburg bureau, has exited after the South African bureau was closed by the company.
Other on-air staffers exiting include Nancy Chen, Nikki Battiste, Nicole Baker, and Janet Shamlian.
The cuts come just over two months after the merger of Paramount and Skydance was officially closed, receiving government approval for the move. The merger was part of an $8.4 billion deal between the two organizations. As part of the eliminations, Paramount Skydance hopes to cut $2 billion from its annual operating budget.
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