Big Changes Are Hitting CBS News: Familiar Faces Depart Amid Major Network Overhaul

Imagine turning on your favorite Saturday morning news show, expecting to see familiar, trusted faces, only to realize they're gone. That's the reality for many viewers as Paramount Global, CBS's parent company, executes a sweeping series of layoffs, impacting approximately 2,000 employees and some of Cbs News' most recognizable journalists.

TL;DR: The Big Takeaways on CBS News Layoffs

• Paramount Global is shedding approximately 2,000 employees company-wide, including 1,000 initially laid off in October 2025, with another 1,000 to follow.
• Prominent figures like "CBS Saturday Morning" co-hosts Michelle Miller and Dana Jacobson, along with correspondents Lisa Ling, Nancy Chen, Nikki Battiste, and Janet Shamlian, are among those departing.
• These significant cuts are a direct result of Paramount's $8 billion merger with Skydance earlier this year, aiming to reduce annual operating costs by $2 billion.

Why So Many Journalists and Staffers Are Leaving CBS News Right Now

The media landscape is constantly shifting, and sometimes, those shifts come with big, tough decisions. In October 2025, Paramount Global announced a major restructuring that would see around 1,000 workers laid off by the end of the month, with another thousand expected to follow. This means roughly 10% of the company's workforce is being cut. Ouch.

Paramount CEO David Ellison explained the decision in a memo, stating that "building a strong, future-focused company would require significant change — including restructuring the organization." He described these moves as "necessary steps" to position Paramount for long-term success. Source: [Celebs, "The Most Famous Faces To Get Cut From CBS News Amid Major Network Changes," Nov. 8, 2025]

This massive shake-up comes on the heels of Paramount completing its $8 billion merger with Skydance Media earlier this year. The goal? To trim a hefty $2 billion from the company's annual operating budget. It’s a classic corporate move: merge, then streamline operations to cut costs and eliminate redundancies. Unfortunately, "streamlining" often means jobs.

The Familiar Faces No Longer Gracing Our Screens at CBS News

When layoffs of this scale hit, they don’t spare the talent many of us have welcomed into our homes for years. Several beloved journalists and anchors are departing CBS News, leaving significant gaps.

The "CBS Saturday Morning" Duo Says Goodbye

Perhaps the most high-profile departures are Michelle Miller and Dana Jacobson, the co-hosts of "CBS Saturday Morning." Both began hosting the show in 2018 (when it was "CBS This Morning Saturday"). Jacobson shared on Instagram that November 22 would be their last show, a bittersweet sign-off for a pair who had anchored the weekend for years. Source: [MassLive, "CBS News is letting go of its ‘CBS Saturday Morning’ co-hosts amid sweeping cuts," Nov. 8, 2025]

Miller, who joined CBS News in 2004, has had a long and distinguished career, covering major events from Hurricane Katrina to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting and the killings of George Floyd, Trayvon Martin, and Michael Brown. Jacobson, with CBS since 2015 after a stint at ESPN, brought her reporting chops to stories like sexual abuse cases at Ohio State and the Missouri Duck Boat accident.

Other Respected Journalists Are Moving On

The list of departures extends beyond the Saturday morning desk. Here are some other notable journalists impacted:

• Lisa Ling: A well-known foreign correspondent and contributor, Ling confirmed her departure in an Instagram video. She wasn't entirely surprised, noting her contributor status made her "easy to cut."
• Nancy Chen: Another correspondent, Chen took to Instagram to express gratitude for her team, highlighting the bond formed while "navigating the unpredictability of life on the road and live television."
• Nikki Battiste & Janet Shamlian: Both Peabody and Emmy winners, these experienced correspondents were also axed.
• Debora Patta: The prominent foreign correspondent, who had just signed a new three-year contract in August, was reportedly let go. The New York Post claimed she is contemplating legal action against CBS for failing to provide a full payout.
• John Dickerson: The co-anchor of "CBS Evening News" announced his exit from the network on October 27, just days before the wider layoffs hit, suggesting his departure might have been "messier than it seemed."

These are just some of the faces viewers might recognize. The layoffs have impacted every area of the news division, from on-air talent to executive producers like Brian Applegate, who also exited "CBS Saturday Morning."

How the Departures Are Being Met and the Industry's Perspective

Naturally, the news of mass layoffs sent shockwaves through the network. While the company leadership frames these as strategic moves for "long-term success," the human impact is undeniable.

Lisa Ling, despite her personal news, focused on the larger picture. She stated, "My heart, though, goes out to all of those who had been working at the network for many, many years." This sentiment highlights the difficult reality for many long-term employees who dedicated their careers to CBS. Ling also shared that she's already developing a new platform to explore themes of "intergenerational strength and healing," showcasing a resilient pivot. Source: [TV Insider, "Lisa Ling Announces CBS News Exit Amid Network Layoffs: ‘Easy to Cut’," Oct. 31, 2025]

"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. My heart, though, goes out to all of those who had been working at the network for many, many years."

— Lisa Ling (via Instagram)

On the flip side, there’s internal trepidation. One Paramount executive reportedly told Variety, "It’s a bloodbath. I don’t know who’s going to be left to do the work." This stark quote captures a very real counterpoint: while cost-cutting is a financial necessity for leadership, the practical implications for those remaining, and the quality of output, can become a serious concern. Source: [Movieguide, "Paramount Executes First Round of Layoffs Since Merge with Skydance," Nov. 3, 2025]

The closing of CBS News bureaus in Johannesburg and South Africa, with oversight shifting to the London bureau, illustrates another painful tradeoff. While consolidating operations might save money, it potentially reduces on-the-ground reporting and local insights from vital regions. Many TV news divisions have scaled back foreign bureaus recently, making overseas correspondents some of the first to go during restructurings.

The Future of CBS News: From Saturday Mornings to Streaming

These cuts aren't just about people; they're about content and platform strategy. The exit of Miller and Jacobson from "CBS Saturday Morning" comes as the network plans to revamp the show's format to be "closer to the weekday show 'CBS Mornings'." This indicates a move towards greater consistency and potentially more shared resources between weekday and weekend broadcasts.

In addition to linear TV changes, CBS has also canceled its streaming extensions, "CBS Mornings Plus" and "CBS Evening News Plus." While streaming has been a significant investment for many news outlets, monetizing these low-scale viewership platforms can be challenging compared to traditional broadcasting. This decision reflects a re-evaluation of which digital ventures truly deliver value.

Example: The Ripple Effect on Viewers

Consider a hypothetical viewer like Sarah, a busy working mom who enjoys catching up on the week's headlines with her coffee on Saturday mornings. She's grown accustomed to the calm, authoritative presence of Michelle Miller and Dana Jacobson. Their familiar banter and insightful reporting became a part of her weekend routine. Now, with their departure and a new format, Sarah might feel a disconnect, perhaps even a subtle loss of a small, comforting ritual. She might find herself exploring other news sources or simply tuning out, illustrating how deeply these changes can resonate even with casual viewers.

The Broader Industry Context: Navigating the Digital Shift

What's happening at CBS isn't an isolated incident; it’s a symptom of a larger seismic shift in the media industry. Linear TV (traditional broadcast and cable) is facing increasing pressure from streaming services and fragmented audiences. Companies like Paramount are trying to adapt by consolidating, cutting costs, and focusing on what they believe will be profitable in the long run.

This struggle to adapt is evident across the board. Warner Bros. Discovery, for instance, has also been exploring selling off its linear TV assets. The market is ripe with mergers and acquisitions as media giants jockey for position in an increasingly digital world, often leading to similar rounds of layoffs and strategic re-evaluations. It's a tough time for traditional media, and these CBS changes are a clear indicator of the ongoing evolution.

FAQ: Your Quick Guide to the CBS News Layoffs

Why are these layoffs happening at CBS News? The layoffs are primarily a result of Paramount Global's recent $8 billion merger with Skydance Media, part of a strategy to cut $2 billion in annual operating costs and restructure the company for "long-term success." Which prominent CBS News personalities are leaving? Key departures include "CBS Saturday Morning" co-hosts Michelle Miller and Dana Jacobson, correspondents Lisa Ling, Nancy Chen, Nikki Battiste, Janet Shamlian, and foreign correspondent Debora Patta. John Dickerson also exited just before the layoffs. What happens to "CBS Saturday Morning"? "CBS Saturday Morning" will continue but undergo a format revamp to align more closely with the weekday "CBS Mornings" show, which includes merging staffing operations. Will other Paramount divisions be affected? Yes, the layoffs impact approximately 2,000 employees across various Paramount Global divisions, including CBS, Comedy Central, and others, not just CBS News. Practical Takeaways: What This Means for You

• Expect changes in your favorite CBS News programs, especially on weekend mornings, as the network retools its offerings.
• The media industry is consolidating and streamlining. This means more mergers and potentially fewer distinct voices or niche programs as companies focus on core content.
• On-the-ground international reporting may become rarer as networks prioritize cost savings by closing foreign bureaus and centralizing operations.
• Streaming platforms continue to evolve; "plus" extensions that weren't monetized effectively are being cut, indicating a continued search for viable digital revenue models.

Sources:

• Celebs, "The Most Famous Faces To Get Cut From CBS News Amid Major Network Changes," Nov. 8, 2025.
• MassLive, "CBS News is letting go of its ‘CBS Saturday Morning’ co-hosts amid sweeping cuts," Nov. 8, 2025.
• TV Insider, "Lisa Ling Announces CBS News Exit Amid Network Layoffs: ‘Easy to Cut’," Oct. 31, 2025.
• Movieguide, "Paramount Executes First Round of Layoffs Since Merge with Skydance," Nov. 3, 2025.
• NextShark, "Lisa Ling confirms CBS exit after network layoffs," undated.
• Broadcasting + Media Africa, "Paramount Skydance To Lay Off 2,000 Employees, Closing CBS News Bureau In Johannesburg, South Africa," Nov. 3, 2025.
• Barrett Media, "More Names From Widespread CBS News Layoffs Emerge," Nov. 3, 2025.