Liberal Media Begging Americans To Trust Them
Tony Dokoupil, who officially steps into the anchor chair at CBS Evening News on Monday, is delivering a message rarely heard from legacy television news: Americans no longer trust the media — and he says they have a right not to.
In a recorded statement released Thursday and shared across CBS platforms, Dokoupil openly acknowledged what millions of viewers have believed for years — that traditional news organizations have drifted away from everyday Americans.
“Much has changed since the first anchor sat in this chair,” Dokoupil said. “But the biggest change is that people no longer trust us the way they once did. And that problem extends far beyond CBS. It affects all legacy media.”
Admitting What Viewers Already Know
Dokoupil, who joined CBS in 2016 after working at several major national outlets, said mainstream journalism has repeatedly failed to capture the lived experiences of ordinary Americans. Instead, he noted, coverage too often reflects the perspectives of political advocates, academic experts, and elite institutions — not families, workers, or retirees.
“I know this feeling personally,” he said. “There were times when the news I was watching didn’t match what I was seeing and hearing in my own life.”
That disconnect, he suggested, has fueled public skepticism and declining confidence in television news.
A Promise to Put Viewers First
As he assumes one of the most influential roles in broadcast journalism, Dokoupil made a direct pledge to viewers.
“You come first,” he said. “Not advertisers. Not politicians. Not corporate interests — including the corporate owners of CBS. I report for you.”
He concluded by urging viewers to hold him accountable for that promise.
The comments stand out because they come from the anchor of a network long viewed as a pillar of the media establishment. They also arrive as CBS undergoes a significant leadership transition.
Major Changes Inside CBS News
Last fall, Paramount announced it had appointed Bari Weiss as editor in chief of CBS News, while also acquiring her independent media outlet. Weiss, who previously worked as an opinion columnist for The New York Times, has built a reputation for challenging ideological groupthink in journalism.
Her arrival immediately raised questions about whether CBS would rethink how it covers politics, culture, and national issues.
At the same time, several legacy outlets — including CBS — have faced criticism from conservatives who believe major media organizations softened their tone toward the White House during President Donald Trump’s second term, particularly after a number of legal disputes with Trump were quietly settled.
Programming Shakeups and Internal Pushback
Under Weiss’ leadership, CBS has made notable changes, including moving Dokoupil from the network’s morning program to the flagship evening broadcast. She has also supported new formats aimed at reaching Americans who feel ignored or misrepresented by traditional media narratives.
However, her tenure has not been without controversy.
Weiss drew internal criticism after delaying a segment scheduled to air on 60 Minutes involving a well-known Salvadoran prison that has housed migrants deported under Trump-era policies. One correspondent suggested the decision was politically motivated.
Weiss rejected that claim, saying the piece required additional reporting and broader context before it could responsibly air.
“Holding stories that aren’t ready happens in every newsroom,” she said. “Especially when important voices or critical context are missing.”
Will CBS Follow Through?
As Dokoupil takes the helm of the evening broadcast, many longtime viewers — particularly older Americans who have grown wary of mainstream media — will be watching closely.
His message resonated because it acknowledged a reality viewers already understand: trust must be earned, not demanded. Whether CBS News truly delivers on that promise remains to be seen, but the admission alone marks a notable moment for an industry struggling to reconnect with the public it once served.
