The decision by CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss to end the network's radio news service marks another crack in the legacy built by William S.
Paley, according to his granddaughter, Brooke A. Byers.
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Byers recently spoke with a U. S.
senator who did not know who Paley was or about his role in creating CBS.
She expressed dismay at the lack of recognition for her grandfather, whom she adored and revered.
Paley built the CBS News Radio network and later the CBS Television networks, turning them into a media empire.
News was always a primary focus of the Tiffany Network, exemplified by Edward R. Murrow, Walter Cronkite, and programs like 60 Minutes.
Byers also worked for Fred W. Friendly, former president of CBS News, who collaborated with Murrow on the documentary program See It Now.
Friendly resigned from CBS News when the network chose to air I Love Lucy instead of Vietnam War hearings.
Paley deeply respected Friendly's passion for CBS News.
While proud of CBS sitcoms like All in the Family, Paley considered the news division his crown jewel.
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The decision in March to cut radio programming and eliminate news jobs, reportedly involving CBS News president Tom Cibrowski, represents another crack in that crown jewel, Byers said.
Byers gets her news from multiple sources but trusts CBS News Radio updates on SiriusXM's Potus channel most.
She believes the five-minute broadcasts provide the most convenient and objective news, reminiscent of the Cronkite era.
She questions whether the cost savings will significantly improve the network's bottom line.
Weiss stated that radio is woven into CBS's fabric and history, but the cuts followed earlier layoffs in October.
Recent viewership of the CBS Evening News has fallen to third place.
Byers recalled her grandfather's 1948 report to shareholders, where he argued that new media does not displace existing ones.
She believes radio can still play an important role if given resources.
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Byers concluded with Murrow's sign-off: "Good night and good luck."
