Ingrid Ciprián-Matthews, who has served as president of CBS News since August, resigned Wednesday morning, just three days after the network’s parent company, Paramount, agreed to merge with the production company Skydance Media. The announcement was sudden, if not unexpected, considering the many changes that are expected to come throughout CBS in the wake of the merger, including significant expected cost-cutting.
“We all know our industry and company are going through a transformation and a number of short- and long-term decisions need to be made,” Ciprián-Matthews wrote in a memo to CBS News employees. “I do not want to be disingenuous with any of you about who should drive these decisions. I’ve always leaned into my integrity and my values and I felt it was important to be transparent at this juncture about my plans.”
Ciprián-Matthews will remain with the network through the election as a senior editorial adviser, “given the historical significance of this election and the current political moment.” One of the network’s chief rivals, ABC News, is also in a state of extreme flux with just about four months to go before the presidential election. Kim Godwin resigned as president of the network in May, and her deputy, Stacia Deshishku, followed her out the door last month.
Ciprián-Matthews has worked at CBS News since 1993. In her memo, she said she plans to “write [her] next chapter,” but did not share further details. “Over the past four decades, from NPR and CNN to more than 30 years at CBS, I’ve been able to see much of the world, cover most of the major news events of our lifetimes, and, most of all, work with all of you, in the field, in bureaus, on shows, and from the front office,” she wrote. “I am so thankful for each and every one of you and am filled with gratitude for what we have accomplished.”
CBS News has had little continuity at the top in recent years. Legendary television producer Susan Zirinsky, who inspired Holly Hunter’s character in the film “Broadcast News,” held the role of president for only two years, stepping down in 2021. She was succeeded by a pair of executives, Wendy McMahon and Neeraj Khemlani, but Khemlani left his role last year after a tumultuous tenure.
McMahon, who serves as president and chief executive of CBS News and Stations, said in her own memo that “Ingrid’s real superpower lies in the care and compassion she demonstrates for our people and our work.” The network did not immediately announce plans for Ciprián-Matthews’s successor, but McMahon said that more updates will soon be shared.
Ingrid Ciprián-Matthews, a three-decade veteran of CBS News who ascended to the role of president in 2023, abruptly announced Wednesday that she will step down from her role as the news organization’s parent company prepares for a complex merger.
“No journalist wants to ‘be’ the news, especially me. But today, I have some news of my own to share,” Ciprián-Matthews announced in a memo to employees. “After much consideration, I’ve decided this is the right time to step away from my current role at CBS News and begin to write my next chapter.”
The sudden move comes just months before the high stakes 2024 presidential election, leaving the Tiffany Network’s news organization without a top boss to guide it through the pivotal moment. Wendy McMahon, chief executive of CBS News and Stations, said in a separate memo to staffers that Ciprián-Matthews will move into a newly created role as senior editorial adviser helping to guide the outlet’s politics coverage during the election.
The announcement also comes days after Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS News, accepted an offer from Hollywood production studio Skydance Media that will see the two companies merge. Following the merger, Skydance Media plans to install its own leadership team.
Ciprián-Matthews alluded to the corporate uncertainty in her memo to staff. “Some may be asking why I’m announcing this now. We all know our industry and company are going through a transformation and a number of short- and long-term decisions need to be made,” she wrote. “I do not want to be disingenuous with any of you about who should drive these decisions. I’ve always leaned into my integrity and my values and I felt it was important to be transparent at this juncture about my plans.”
“Ingrid will transition into this new role over the next few weeks, and we will share more updates soon,” McMahon said. When she took over as CBS News president, Ciprián-Matthews became the first Latina to hold the influential post at the network’s news division. Her short run came after Neeraj Khemlani stepped down after a brief two-year stint, during which he become the subject of a human resources probe.
The decision by Ciprián-Matthews to vacate her role means that two of the nation’s biggest television broadcast news organizations will be without a chief heading into the November elections amid a particularly turbulent period in the media industry. Earlier this year, Disney ousted Kim Godwin as ABC News chief and has yet to announce a replacement.
Ingrid Ciprián-Matthews said that she was exiting CBS News, having served as president of the division for less than a year. She wrote in a memo to employees that she planned to transition to a new role at the end of the month as senior editorial adviser through the election.
“We all know our industry and company are going through a transformation and a number of short- and long-term decisions need to be made,” she wrote. “I do not want to be disingenuous with any of you about who should drive those decisions. I’ve always leaned into my integrity and my values and I felt it was important to be transparent at this juncture about my plans.”
Her announcement comes amid pending major changes to the ownership of CBS-parent Paramount Global, with an agreement announced earlier this week in which it would merge with Skydance and be led by David Ellison and Jeff Shell. It was just last August that Ciprián-Matthews was named president of CBS News as part of a restructuring of the news division leadership. Wendy McMahon took on sole oversight of news, syndication and stations, after sharing duties with Neeraj Khemlani as president and co-head of the division.
Ciprián-Matthews’ exit is just the latest tumult in network newsroom leadership, as the business navigates changes in consumer habits and the decline in audiences for linear offerings. In May, Kim Godwin resigned as president of ABC News, after a sometimes tumultuous, three-year tenure. Months earlier, Disney installed a new executive above her, Debra OConnell who, like McMahon, oversees the network’s news and stations.
Ciprián-Matthews had been with the network for more than 30 years, including roles as Washington bureau chief, executive vice president for CBS News and executive vice president of strategic professional development. As part of the Paramount-Skydance deal, the new leadership has announced plans for $2 billion in cost savings after the deal is completed, expected some time next year. But the current Paramount Global leadership — the troika of George Cheeks, Brian Robbins and Chris McCarthy — have already outlined about $500 million in cost cuts.
No successor to Ciprián-Matthews has been named. McMahon wrote in a memo that there would be “more updates soon.” “Her career is defined by the unwavering commitment she has for our teams and our viewers…her passion and precision for every story…and the empathy and kindness she shows everyone in the field and throughout our newsrooms,” McMahon wrote. “We’re fortunate we can continue to rely on her experience and dedication.”
Here is Ciprián-Matthews’ memo to staff:
Hello everyone, No journalist wants to ‘be’ the news, especially me. But today, I have some news of my own to share. After much consideration, I’ve decided this is the right time to step away from my current role at CBS News and begin to write my next chapter. George and Wendy understand how difficult a decision this has been. They have supported me through this process and for that I am very grateful. At the end of the month, I’ll be transitioning to a new role. I have gladly agreed to stay on through the election as a senior editorial adviser to CBS News, given the historical significance of this election and the current political moment. Some may be asking why I’m announcing this now. We all know our industry and company are going through a transformation and a number of short- and long-term decisions need to be made. I do not want to be disingenuous with any of you about who should drive these decisions. I’ve always leaned into my integrity and my values and I felt it was important to be transparent at this juncture about my plans. We all know how demanding our jobs are, but rest assured the work we do matters. Your conviction, your enthusiasm and your love of journalism distinguishes CBS News and fills me with pride. Nothing happens here without each of you, and the dedication and passion of our teams is evident at every level – in every bureau and newsroom. Your commitment to factual reporting with context during challenging times, in our world and our country, is what inspires and encourages me about the future of journalism at CBS News. Over the past four decades, from NPR and CNN to more than 30 years at CBS, I’ve been able to see much of the world, cover most of the major news events of our lifetimes, and, most of all, work with all of you, in the field, in bureaus, on shows, and from the front office. I am so thankful for each and every one of you and am filled with gratitude for what we have accomplished. You are the best in the industry, and it shows on every platform and in every story. I am forever honored to call CBS my News home….so now back to the News! With all my respect, Ingrid
Here is McMahon’s memo:
Hi everyone, Over the past months, Ingrid and I have been talking about this moment we find ourselves in – one of relentless transformation across our industry, and a moment in which we are covering one of the most important stories of our lifetimes. It is a time of immense change professionally and personally. Those conversations led Ingrid to the decision she shared with all of you today, and I am pleased that she has agreed to stay on in a new position as senior editorial adviser guiding our political coverage through the election. This newly created role leverages Ingrid’s expertise, particularly as a former Washington bureau chief. She will work directly with our D.C. bureau and political team to contribute significantly and help lead our coverage. Ingrid’s illustrious and impactful CBS News career has placed her at the heart of every significant story of the past 30 years, and we are fortunate to have her laser-focused on this one. While she has accomplished a great deal journalistically in key roles across CBS News, Ingrid’s real superpower lies in the care and compassion she demonstrates for our people and our work. Her career is defined by the unwavering commitment she has for our teams and our viewers…her passion and precision for every story…and the empathy and kindness she shows everyone in the field and throughout our newsrooms. We’re fortunate we can continue to rely on her experience and dedication. Ingrid will transition into this new role over the next few weeks, and we will share more updates soon. For now, please join me in expressing our gratitude to Ingrid. She will be inducted into the National Association of Hispanic Journalists’ Hall of Fame this week, a well-deserved honor, and we look forward to celebrating her at NAHJ and continuing to work closely with her in this new role. Wendy
Source: CNN, NBC News, Deadline
