CBS Evening News turmoil as top producer is fired during Tony Dokoupil's rocky first week as anchor
CBS News fired a top producer for its evening newscast as Tony Dokoupil's difficult first week in the anchor chair continued.
Javier Guzman, a senior broadcast producer who had been with the show nearly a decade, was dismissed over disagreements with executive producer Kim Harvey, The Wrap reported.
Guzman's firing reportedly left staffers 'in tears' as a source called him a 'highly respected guy' in the room.
He had been promoted to his position just this past August, predating Bari Weiss 'anti-woke' takeover of the network's news division at the behest of new owner David Ellison.
The Guardian reported that it was initially 'unclear what the rationale' for firing Guzman was and that it led to 'confusion in the newsroom.'
The Daily Mail has reached out to CBS News for comment.
The firing will likely do nothing to ease the anger and anxiety over Weiss' leadership at one of legacy media's biggest names.
The network has been at the forefront of criticism since its parent company, Paramount, was purchased by billionaire David Ellison, a Trump ally, last year.
CBS News fired a top producer for its evening newscast as Tony Dokoupil's (pictured) difficult first week in the anchor continued
Javier Guzman (pictured), a senior broadcast producer who had been with the show nearly a decade, was dismissed over disagreements with executive producer Kim Harvey
Since then, CBS has experienced an upheaval, including over the hiring of Weiss as the news division's editor-in-chief.
The network's flagship program, CBS Evening News, now has a new face. Dokoupil took over the position this week from previous anchors, John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois.
Dokoupil launched his tenure on the evening broadcast with features on high-ranking officials in the Trump administration, including Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.
While Dokoupil's first broadcast drew a nine percent ratings increase, CBS still lagged a distant third behind ABC and NBC's competing news programs.
The changes in the network have some staffers skeptical of CBS's direction, with one insider telling independent journalist Oliver Darcy of Status News that the company is a 'total disaster.'
Darcy said that multiple insiders painted a picture at CBS where the network was 'led by unserious people who are hellbent on taking it into far friendlier waters for the Trump administration.'
CBS News historically leaned left, with a 2014 Pew Research survey finding that over half of the network's viewers identified as 'consistently liberal.'
However, the network has appeared to move right under new leadership, with Dokoupil reportedly a part of the transition.
He had been promoted to his position just this past August, predating Bari Weiss 'anti-woke' takeover of the network's news division at the behest of new owner David Ellison
CBS has undergone massive changes in the past year, with new ownership and a new editor-in-chief
He anchored Tuesday's broadcast from Miami and devoted time to spotlighting Rubio, calling the secretary the 'ultimate Florida man.'
'Marco Rubio, we salute you,' Dokoupil added.
Darcy called the portfolio on Rubio 'a glowing tribute' and an 'extraordinary editorial decision.'
As the newly installed evening anchor, Dokoupil has launched a segment called Live from America.
The tour includes 10 stops in cities across the US to connect with viewers outside of the media hubs in New York and Washington DC.
CBS News leased a private jet for the tour, according to the Los Angeles Times. However, the plan was delayed due to the invasion of Venezuela and again following the ICE shooting in Minnesota.
Insiders told Darcy that Dokoupil's Live from America tour was 'deeply inauthentic' in light of the anchor's introductory statement, which railed against the mainstream media for catering to 'academics or elites.'
Dokoupil has made it clear that patriotism is one of his values. He unveiled five principles to guide his broadcast, which included: 'We love America.'
A new report has claimed that insiders at CBS News are frustrated with the network's direction, including anchor Tony Dokupil's promotion to the Evening News
His other four principles were, 'We work for you,' 'We report on the world as it is,' 'We respect you,' and 'We respect tradition.'
Although Dokoupil has only just assumed the position on the Evening News, he's already been widely criticized.
During his first broadcast, he suffered technical difficulties when it appeared his teleprompter was set to the wrong segment.
Producers projected an image of Senator Mark Kelly onto the screen, but Dokupil began reading a script about Governor Tim Walz.
'First day, first day, big problems here. Uh, are we going to Kelly here or are we gonna go to Jonah Kaplan?' he said.
The telecast went viral on social media, with some speculating that a liberal staffer sabotaged the program.
Insiders previously told the Daily Mail that Weiss 'made a fool of herself' by chasing big-name broadcasters only to promote Dokupil as the Evening News heir.
'Big league ambitions, little league talent,' the source added.
'Looks like she is now rummaging through the bargain bin of personalities in tapping Dokoupil as the new face of the Evening News,' another said.
