Paramount Global announced the layoffs of 800 employees, including such high-profile figures as Katherine Herridge, the Emmy Award-winning and Emmy-nominated senior investigative reporter known for her national security and intelligence coverage.
In a memo to employees obtained by CNN, Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish confirmed the layoffs but did not reveal specific numbers. However, sources familiar with the situation have told far-left media that the cuts represent a 3% reduction in the company's global workforce.
These layoffs are part of Paramount's strategy to streamline operations and boost earnings growth. This came as a shock to the industry, especially after the network's recent success with its Super Bowl ads.
“These adjustments will help us build on our momentum and execute on our strategic vision for next year — and I firmly believe we have a lot to be excited about,” Bakish wrote.
Among those affected by the layoffs were prominent CBS News journalists, including Kathryn Herridge and chief national affairs and justice correspondent Jeff Biges. The exact date of their exit from the network remains unclear.
Former US National Security Advisor Mike Flynn commented on the news, saying: “Katherine Herridge remains one of the best investigative journalists of the modern era. Her firing is a sign that they are about to burn themselves out.” Good riddance CBS.
CBS has just destroyed itself. @CBS_Herridge He remains one of the best investigative journalists of modern times.
Her expulsion is a sign that they are about to burn themselves out. Good riddance CBS. https://t.co/afurKzFC8g
– Gen. Mike Flynn (@GenFlynn) February 14, 2024
Catherine Herridge has yet to issue a statement in response to the news.
Catherine Herridge, an Emmy Award winner and nominee known for her national security and intelligence coverage, joined CBS News in 2019 after a long tenure at Fox News.
Herridge's career has been marked by her strict adherence to First Amendment rights, highlighted by her involvement in a lawsuit stemming from her refusal to reveal sources from a series of reports in 2017.
Herridge faces contempt charges and possible imprisonment for refusing to reveal the identity of her confidential source.
In August, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ordered Herridge to sit and testify under oath regarding a confidential source she used in a 2017 story she covered about a Defense Department-funded school that was at the center. For federal investigations into Chinese military ties while at Fox News.
Judge Herridge ordered the handover of her source(s) in response to a lawsuit filed by Chinese-American scientist Yanping Chen against the FBI. Chen called up Herridge in an attempt to find out her sources.
Herridge argued that she should not be forced to reveal her source because of her First Amendment rights. She refused to reveal her source during the deposition and now faces contempt charges and possible prison time.
Herridge also expressed concerns about potential national security events in 2024, calling them unpredictable “black swan” events.
During a year-end CBS News Correspondents Roundtable, Katherine Herridge offered a bleak forecast for 2024, alluding to a potential “black swan event” — a national security crisis with a significant, unpredictable impact.
“Well, I'm a little dark,” she began. “I am very concerned that 2024 could be the year of a black swan event. This is a national security event that has a significant impact and is very difficult to predict.”
“There are a number of concerns, I have that factor in that. Not just the kind of constant and elevated threat that we face, but the wars in Israel, as well as in Ukraine.”
“And we are so divided in this country in ways we have never seen before. I believe this creates fertile ground for our adversaries like North Korea, China and Iran. “This is what worries me the most,” she added.
Her critical stance towards the current regime was clear in her recent reports and comments.
Its last report was the issue of the Biden/Hoare documents and the GOP's demand to release the transcripts.
“The committees are requesting this transcript (Biden/Hoare interview). There is concern that President Biden may have retained sensitive, country-specific documents related to his family's foreign business dealings… by February 19,” she wrote on X.
.@JudiciaryGOP @GOPoversight @WaysandMeansGOP “The Committees request this transcript (Biden/Hoare interview)… There is concern that President Biden may have retained sensitive country-specific documents related to his family's foreign business dealings…” by February 19. pic.twitter.com/tdcI8aU01T
– Catherine Herridge (@CBS_Heridge) February 12, 2024
Have you noticed that the liberal media is collapsing? Every week we hear about another media outlet laying off staff.
There are two different things that cause this. First, a growing percentage of the American people no longer trust the media because many journalists are merely Democratic Party operatives. Second, all the liberal media are saying the same thing, and thus competing with each other for a shrinking share of market share.
Do you think the people in our media class will learn something from this? Probably not.
Journalist layoffs continue as liberal media collapses before our eyes
