CBS News Lays Off Dozens in New Round of Staff Cuts
Dozens of employees at CBS News were laid off in recent days amid a new round of budget cuts at the third-place network's news division.Some employees were reassigned and others were demoted in the process. Speaking on condition of anonymity because they feared further layoffs, CBS employees said
the cuts affected network programs and its news-gathering bureaus. Only a handful of on-camera employees were affected.
By Brian Stelter
Published: February 3, 2010
(The New York Times)
CBS executives said reports that roughly 100 people were dismissed were inflated, but declined to say how many employees were affected. The news division, which loses money for its parent, the CBS Corporation, says it employs about 1,400 people.
Sean McManus, the president of CBS News and Sports, said of the cutbacks, "We're doing what every other media company in the world has done."
On Wednesday, CBS found itself forced to deny claims by The New York Post and The Drudge Report that Katie Couric, the anchor of the flagship "CBS Evening News," was facing a pay cut. Changes to Ms. Couric's contract, including her salary level, "have not been discussed at all, ever," Mr. McManus said.
Meanwhile, ABC News employees are bracing for an unknown number of staff reductions related to impending budget cuts, according to people there who also requested anonymity. An ABC News spokesman declined to comment.
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