CBS News Cuts 60+ Jobs and Kills Its 99-Year Radio Service — What It Means for Media Workers in 2026

CBS News eliminated roughly 6% of its 1,100-person workforce on Friday, March 20 — cutting more than 60 positions — and announced it would shut down CBS News Radio, the division that has delivered hourly news updates to about 700 affiliated stations since 1927. The radio service's final broadcast is scheduled for May 22, 2026. The cuts represent the second round of layoffs at the network since Skydance Media chief David Ellison took control of Paramount Global last summer. For the hundreds of media professionals watching their industry shrink in real time, the question is no longer whether more cuts are coming — it's where the work is going and how to position yourself for what's left. Metaintro breaks down the labor market impact.

What Happened at CBS News?

CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss and president Tom Cibrowski informed staff that the network needed to restructure in order to remain competitive. In an internal memo obtained by multiple outlets, they wrote: "It's no secret that the news business is changing radically, and that we need to change along with it. New audiences are burgeoning in new places, and we are pressing forward with ambitious plans to grow and invest so that we can be there for them. That means some parts of our newsroom must get smaller to make room for the things we must build to remain competitive."

The most historically significant casualty is CBS News Radio. Founded in September 1927, the service predates the CBS television network itself and served as the foundation for the entire broadcast operation. Its flagship program, "World News Roundup," holds the distinction of being the longest-running newscast in American history. During World War II, legendary correspondents like Edward R. Murrow delivered their iconic dispatches through this very service. By May 22, all of that will be over, and every position on the radio team will be eliminated.

For the roughly 700 affiliated stations that carry CBS News Radio content, this creates an immediate operational problem: they have just two months to find a replacement news provider. For the workers who staff those operations — anchors, producers, editors, audio engineers, and reporters — it means joining an already crowded field of displaced media professionals looking for their next role.

Why Is the Media Industry Cutting So Many Jobs in 2026?

The CBS layoffs are not an isolated event. They are part of a structural collapse in American newsroom employment that has accelerated dramatically in 2026. According to Press Gazette, more than 500 journalism jobs have been eliminated in the first three months of the year alone — a pace that puts 2026 on track to surpass previous record years for media layoffs well before summer.

The scale of recent cuts tells the story. The Washington Post eliminated more than 300 journalists in early 2026 — roughly one-third of its 800-person newsroom — shuttering its entire sports section, closing its books desk, and suspending its flagship "Post Reports" podcast. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution cut approximately 50 positions, or about 15% of its workforce. And those are just the marquee names. Smaller regional outlets have been quietly reducing staff or closing entirely throughout the quarter.

The longer-term trend is even more alarming. Pew Research Center data shows that U.S. newsroom employment has fallen 26% since 2008, with newspaper employment specifically dropping by roughly 74% from its 1990 peak through 2024. The rise of social media, podcasts, and streaming platforms has fragmented audiences and cratered the advertising model that once sustained legacy news operations. CBS leadership cited these "challenging economic realities" directly when explaining the radio shutdown.

As Metaintro CEO Lacey Kaelani told People Managing People, "What we're seeing isn't just a correction — it's a restructuring. Companies are using AI as both a tool and an excuse to fundamentally reshape their workforces." While CBS has not cited AI specifically as a driver of these cuts, the broader pattern Kaelani describes — companies using economic and technological shifts as cover for permanent workforce reduction — applies squarely to the media industry's current trajectory.

How Does This Restructuring Compare to Previous CBS Cuts?

This is the second round of layoffs at CBS News since David Ellison's Skydance Media completed its takeover of Paramount Global last summer. The first round came shortly after the ownership transition, as the new leadership team began evaluating the cost structure across Paramount's media properties. Weiss, a co-founder of The Free Press, was personally installed by Ellison as CBS News editor-in-chief last October with a mandate to reshape the division.

The pattern is familiar across the media landscape. When ownership changes hands — whether through mergers, acquisitions, or private equity buyouts — workforce reduction almost always follows. Paramount Global itself has been through multiple rounds of restructuring over the past several years. The Skydance deal brought fresh capital but also fresh expectations for operational efficiency, and those expectations are now being felt on the newsroom floor.

What makes this round different is the symbolic weight of shutting down CBS News Radio. Closing a division that dates to 1927 — one that predates television, carried Edward R. Murrow's wartime dispatches, and ran the longest-running newscast in U.S. history — sends a clear message about where legacy media sees its future. It is not in traditional broadcast. It is in digital, streaming, and whatever "new places" the internal memo referenced.

Where Are Displaced Media Workers Finding Jobs?

For journalists and media professionals caught in this wave of cuts, the job market is challenging but not hopeless. The key is understanding which corners of the industry are growing while legacy outlets contract. Here is where the opportunities are concentrating in 2026:

Nonprofit and philanthropy-funded newsrooms. Organizations like ProPublica, The Marshall Project, and CalMatters are funded by foundations rather than advertising revenue, which insulates them from the market forces crushing legacy media. These outlets are actively hiring and often offer competitive salaries alongside better work-life balance than traditional newsrooms. For investigative reporters, data journalists, and editors with deep subject-matter expertise, this sector represents the most stable growth area in journalism.

Podcast networks and audio storytelling. The irony of CBS shutting down its radio service is that audio content is thriving — just not in the traditional broadcast format. Podcast networks, streaming audio platforms, and multimedia news operations at outlets like NPR, Vox Media, The New York Times Audio division, and Spotify's editorial team are all hiring journalists who can report, write, and produce across formats. CBS radio veterans with audio production skills are well-positioned for this transition.

Corporate communications and content marketing. Many displaced journalists are moving into corporate communications, content strategy, and brand journalism roles at technology companies, healthcare organizations, and financial services firms. These positions value the same core skills — clear writing, deadline discipline, source development, and storytelling — but typically offer higher salaries and more job security than newsroom positions. The trade-off is leaving traditional journalism, which is a personal decision every displaced media professional has to weigh.

Newsletter and independent media. The creator economy has opened a viable path for experienced journalists to build independent operations through platforms like Substack and Beehiiv. Reporters with established beats and loyal audiences can monetize their expertise directly. This is not a realistic option for everyone — it requires an existing following and entrepreneurial instincts — but for those with a strong personal brand, it offers more editorial independence than any legacy outlet.

What Does the Broader Media Job Market Look Like Right Now?

The numbers paint a sobering picture. A Reuters Institute survey found that only 38% of digital news leaders are confident about journalism's overall prospects — though 53% expressed confidence about their own organization's business specifically. That gap suggests the industry as a whole is struggling, but organizations that have adapted their business models are finding a way forward.

The long-term employment trend is stark. From 1990 through 2024, newspaper employment in the United States fell by approximately 74%, according to Pew Research Center. The decline accelerated after 2008, when the Great Recession combined with the rise of digital advertising to gut the traditional business model. What is happening now — the CBS cuts, the Washington Post downsizing, the steady drip of smaller-outlet closures — is the latest chapter in a multi-decade contraction that shows no signs of reversing.

For job seekers in the media industry, this means competition for remaining positions is intense. Every major layoff dumps experienced professionals into a market that already has more candidates than openings. The CBS cuts alone affect more than 60 people, and when you add the radio service shutdown — which eliminates an entire team of anchors, producers, editors, and engineers — the number of displaced workers grows further. These are professionals with decades of broadcast experience who are now competing for a shrinking pool of traditional media roles.

What Should Displaced Journalists Do Right Now?

If you are among the journalists and media professionals affected by this latest round of cuts — or if you are watching from a newsroom that may be next — there are concrete steps you can take to strengthen your position in an increasingly difficult market.

Diversify your skill set immediately. The journalists who are getting hired in 2026 are multimedia-capable. They can write, produce audio, edit video, manage social media distribution, and analyze audience data. If your experience is concentrated in a single medium — especially radio or print — invest in building skills across formats. Free and low-cost training is available through organizations like the Poynter Institute, Google News Initiative, and SPJ (Society of Professional Journalists).

Expand your job search beyond traditional newsrooms. Corporate communications departments at major companies, public relations agencies, government communications offices, and university media programs all value journalism experience. These roles often pay significantly more than newsroom positions and provide greater stability. Do not limit yourself to job boards that focus exclusively on journalism openings — cast a wider net on platforms like Metaintro that aggregate opportunities across industries where your skills translate.

Build your personal brand and portfolio now, not later. In a crowded market, the professionals who stand out are those with a visible body of work and a clear area of expertise. Maintain an updated portfolio website, contribute bylined pieces to industry publications, and establish a presence on professional networks. Hiring managers in both media and adjacent industries increasingly evaluate candidates based on their public-facing work, not just their resume.

Network aggressively within growth sectors. The nonprofit journalism sector, podcast industry, and corporate communications world each have their own professional communities and hiring pipelines. Attend industry events (many are virtual and free), join professional associations, and reach out directly to hiring managers at organizations you admire. In journalism, personal connections have always mattered more than cold applications — that has not changed even as everything else has.

What Does This Mean for the Future of Broadcast News?

The shutdown of CBS News Radio is more than a headcount decision — it is a signal about where legacy media companies believe their future lies. Radio, once the backbone of American news consumption, has been in decline for decades. But its complete elimination from a major network's portfolio marks a definitive turning point. When a company that was literally built on radio decides to abandon the format entirely, it tells the labor market something important: the skills associated with traditional broadcast are becoming less valuable at legacy outlets, even as audio storytelling booms in the podcast and streaming space.

The broader restructuring at CBS News reflects a pattern playing out across the entire media industry. Legacy outlets are cutting traditional roles while investing in digital, streaming, and social platforms. For workers, this creates a paradox: the industry is not necessarily shrinking in terms of content demand, but the types of jobs it supports are changing rapidly. Roles centered on traditional broadcast production, linear programming, and legacy distribution are disappearing. Roles centered on digital-first storytelling, audience analytics, social distribution, and multimedia production are growing.

The media professionals who will thrive through this transition are those who recognize the shift early and reposition accordingly. That means treating every layoff announcement — whether it is CBS, the Washington Post, or your own outlet — not as a temporary setback but as a market signal about which skills, formats, and business models the industry is moving toward.

People Also Asked

Q: How many people were laid off at CBS News in March 2026?

A: CBS News cut approximately 6% of its 1,100-person workforce on March 20, 2026 — affecting more than 60 employees. In addition, every position on the CBS News Radio team will be eliminated when the service shuts down on May 22, 2026. This is the second round of layoffs at the network since Skydance Media took control of Paramount Global.

Q: Is CBS News Radio really shutting down?

A: Yes. CBS News Radio, which has been broadcasting since September 1927 and supplies hourly news updates to approximately 700 affiliated stations across the United States, will go off the air permanently on May 22, 2026. The network cited shifting audience habits and challenging economic conditions as reasons for the closure. The service's flagship program, "World News Roundup," is the longest-running newscast in American history.

Q: Where can laid-off journalists find jobs in 2026?

A: The strongest growth areas for displaced journalists include nonprofit newsrooms like ProPublica and The Marshall Project, podcast networks and streaming audio platforms, corporate communications and content marketing roles, and independent newsletter operations on platforms like Substack. Journalists with multimedia skills — audio, video, data analysis, and social distribution — are in the highest demand. Platforms like Metaintro can help media professionals discover opportunities across industries where their skills transfer.

Looking for your next opportunity? Metaintro connects you with curated job market insights, career resources, and opportunities tailored to your skills — whether you are navigating a layoff or planning your next move. Sign up today to stay ahead of the market.