What To Know
- Tony Dokoupil confronted criticism on-line, together with from TV personalities like Andy Cohen, after sharing his mission assertion for CBS Night Information.
- Dokoupil denied hypothesis that Bari Weiss wrote his assertion.
- His debut as anchor comes amid controversy for CBS.
Tony Dokoupil’s first broadcast as CBS Night Information anchor was supposed to come back on Monday, January 5, however the journalist is now making his debut on Saturday, January 3 — and already, he’s spurring backlash on-line.
On New 12 months’s Day, CBS Information posted a video of Dokoupil sharing his mission assertion for CBS Night Information. In that video, Dokoupil stated that legacy media has too typically “missed the story” by “[taking] into consideration the attitude of advocates and never the common American” and “[putting] an excessive amount of weight within the evaluation of lecturers or elites.”
Dokoupil additionally stated that he’s prioritizing common American viewers over advertisers, politicians, and company pursuits. “And, sure, that does embrace the company house owners of CBS,” he stated, referring to Paramount Skydance.
On Instagram, although, Dokoupil confronted a barrage of criticism, together with some from different TV personalities, as The Guardian reporter Jeremy Barr identified in screenshots.
Bravo host Andy Cohen, for one, commented, “Listening an excessive amount of to consultants? WTF.”
Dokoupil wrote again, “Andy, I really like ya. However can you actually not consider any examples the place educational recommendation turned out slender or dangerous? I principally gave you a multiple-choice listing. It’s potential you had been dwelling exterior or above the problems I point out.”
In one other remark, former CBS Information correspondent Don Dahler speculated it was Bari Weiss, the controversial new editor-in-chief of CBS Information, who scripted Dokoupil’s video message. “Tony, you understand I’ve monumental respect and affection for you,” Dahler wrote. “I do know you’re a strong journalist and legit inheritor to the large desk at CBS Information. However this sounds prefer it was written by Bari Weiss.”
To that, Dokoupil responded, “Nope, I wrote it. I spent the primary half of my profession as a print journalist. If the Web had by no means been invented, I in all probability nonetheless can be a print journalist. Writing is my first type.”
One other Instagram person commented, “I grew up on [former CBS Evening News host Walter] Cronkite. Too dangerous CBS has misplaced its Tiffany shine. However good luck to you anyway.”
Dokoupil responded, “What did you like most about him? I can promise you we’ll be extra accountable and extra clear than Cronkite or anybody else of his period.”
A fourth person wrote, “I’ve little or no religion that that is true. We watched your organization twist itself right into a knot to make itself engaging to its new mother or father firm. I doubt you may be permitted to share the information in an unbiased manner. You’ll present tales of on a regular basis Individuals who combat in opposition to habit, job loss, and so on., however the coverage choices contributing to their plight will keep within the background.
And Dokoupil wrote again, “Hey, I hear ya. They’re simply phrases proper now. However maintain me to them.”
Dokoupil’s transfer from CBS Mornings to CBS Night Information comes throughout a turbulent time for CBS. The community has been accused of cozying as much as President Donald Trump as its mother or father firm, Paramount, sought approval for its merger with Skydance. Some observers additionally imagine CBS’ choice to finish The Late Present With Stephen Colbert was politically motivated. And late final month, Weiss was criticized for pulling a 60 Minutes section about deportations underneath the Trump administration.
CBS Night Information With Tony Dokoupil, Weeknights, 6:30/5:30c, CBS
