In the ever-evolving world of news media, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find a source that is unbiased and truly informative. With the rise of social media and polarizing political views, many news outlets have succumbed to catering to a specific audience, often at the expense of journalistic integrity. That’s why when I heard about Bari Weiss’s attempt to reshape the CBS Evening News, I was intrigued. As a loyal viewer of the evening news, I was hopeful that this new approach would bring a breath of fresh air to the often stale and biased reporting. However, after watching the first two weeks of the revamped show, I couldn’t help but wonder, who is this show even for?
Bari Weiss, a former opinion editor at The New York Times, was brought on as an executive producer for the CBS Evening News with Tony Dokoupil. With her reputation as a centrist and willingness to challenge both sides of the political spectrum, many were hopeful that she would bring a balanced and fair perspective to the show. However, as I tuned in every evening, I couldn’t help but notice that the show seemed to cater more to a right-wing audience, rather than the unbiased reporting promised.
From the very first episode, it was clear that the show was trying to appeal to a specific demographic. The choice of Tony Dokoupil as the main anchor was a step in the right direction, as he has proven himself to be a fair and unbiased journalist in the past. However, the stories and guests featured on the show were a different story. In the first week alone, there were multiple segments that focused on conservative viewpoints, with guests such as Republican Senator Tim Scott and commentator Ben Shapiro. While it’s important to have diverse perspectives on a news show, it seemed as though the majority of the guests and stories were handpicked to cater to a right-wing audience.
Furthermore, the tone and language used in the show also seemed to lean towards the right. In one segment, Dokoupil referred to Democrats as “radicals” when discussing their stance on immigration. This type of language only serves to further divide an already polarized country. As a viewer, I was disappointed to see this type of biased language being used on a news show that promised to be fair and balanced.
But perhaps the most concerning aspect of the show was the lack of coverage on important news stories. In the first two weeks of the show, there was minimal coverage on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which is still a major issue affecting the world. Instead, the show chose to focus on stories such as the border crisis and the cancelation of Dr. Seuss books. While these are important topics, they should not take precedence over a global health crisis.
As I continued to watch the show, I couldn’t help but wonder, who is this show even for? It seems to cater to a right-wing audience, but even they may find the biased language and lack of coverage on important news stories off-putting. This raises the question, why is CBS Evening News trying to appeal to a specific audience rather than sticking to its promise of unbiased reporting? Is it simply to increase ratings and attract a certain demographic?
In a time where media bias is a major concern, it’s disheartening to see a respected news network like CBS succumbing to catering to a specific audience. The whole purpose of a news show is to inform and educate the public, not to push a certain political agenda. With Bari Weiss’s attempt to reshape the evening news, there was hope that CBS would break away from this trend and provide unbiased reporting. However, the first two weeks of the show have proven otherwise.
In conclusion, while I applaud Bari Weiss for her efforts to bring balance to the CBS Evening News, the first two weeks of the revamped show have left me disappointed. The biased language, lack of coverage on important news stories, and catering to a specific audience have all raised concerns about the true intentions of the show. As a loyal viewer of the evening news, I can only hope that the show will live up to its promise of unbiased reporting in the future. Until then, I’ll be left wondering who this show is even for.
