CBS editor-in-chief Bari Weiss has hired New York Times columnist Ross Douthat as a contributor and correspondent for "60 Minutes" [1].

The move signals a strategic shift for the long-running Sunday news magazine as Weiss attempts to reshape the network's editorial voice. By recruiting a prominent conservative intellectual, CBS aims to broaden its ideological reach and appeal to a wider segment of the U.S. population.

Weiss said she hired Douthat on July 28, 2026 [1]. The addition of Douthat is part of a larger revamp of the program following a period of internal shake-ups and recent firings at the network [2, 3].

According to reports, Weiss said the revamped version of "60 Minutes" will be more reflective of all of America [2, 3]. This initiative involves not only the recruitment of Douthat, but also other new hires designed to pivot the program's content and perspective [2].

Douthat, known for his commentary in the New York Times, will now bring his reporting and analysis to the television screen. This transition marks a significant move for a writer who has long influenced national discourse from a print-heavy platform.

The hiring comes at a time of transition for CBS, as the network seeks to redefine its role in a fragmented media landscape. The effort to integrate diverse viewpoints into its flagship news program is central to the current leadership's vision for the organization [2, 3].

“Bari Weiss has hired New York Times columnist Ross Douthat as a contributor and correspondent for "60 Minutes".”

The recruitment of Ross Douthat suggests that CBS is pivoting away from a perceived ideological monolith toward a more pluralistic approach to news magazine broadcasting. By integrating a well-known conservative voice into a legacy program like "60 Minutes," the network is attempting to regain trust and viewership among audiences who feel alienated by mainstream media, effectively repositioning the show as a forum for competing intellectual perspectives.