CBS News Radio to shut down after nearly a century of broadcasting
CBS News Radio to Shut Down After Nearly 100 Years of Broadcasting
CBS News announced on Friday that CBS News Radio will be closing its doors this spring, bringing an end to nearly a century of broadcasting. The decision was attributed to “challenging economic realities” and a shift in radio programming strategies.
With approximately 700 affiliated stations across the nation carrying CBS News Radio programming, the final broadcast is scheduled for May 22. Unfortunately, all positions within the radio team will be eliminated as a result of the shutdown.
In a joint statement, CBS News President Tom Cibrowski and Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss expressed their understanding of the impact this decision would have on their staff, acknowledging the significant stories covered by the radio team over the years. They also paid tribute to the historic role CBS News Radio played in reporting major events worldwide since its inception.
“For nearly a century, CBS News Radio has been a source of original reporting for the nation, from Edward R. Murrow’s World War II broadcasts in London to the daily updates from the White House,” the statement read. “Our iconic program, ‘World News Roundup,’ stands as the longest-running newscast in the country and has been the cornerstone of our broadcasting efforts since 1927.”
Edward R. Murrow rose to fame during the war era, captivating millions of Americans with his reports. While he later transitioned to television broadcasts, the decline of radio during the television age, and more recently, the impact of social media and podcasts, have all contributed to the dwindling audience for radio news.
The closure of CBS News Radio is seen as a significant loss for both the industry and the country, according to Michael Harrison, publisher of Talkers, a radio talk show trade publication. He described it as a “part of the landscape that has fallen off into the sea.”
In addition to the radio division, CBS News also underwent layoffs in other areas on the same day. The total number of job cuts was not disclosed, but Cibrowski and Weiss emphasized the need for adaptation in the rapidly changing news landscape.
CBS is currently owned by Paramount Skydance, which acquired ownership last year, signaling a new chapter for the media conglomerate.
