Bari Weiss’ scheduled event at UCLA was canceled after students petitioned for its cancellation. UNSPLASH; TED/YOUTUBE
The scheduled event featuring Bari Weiss at UCLA has been canceled, intensifying the ongoing scrutiny of the controversial CBS News editor-in-chief.
Event Cancellation at UCLA
Weiss was set to present the yearly Daniel Pearl Memorial Lecture on February 27 at Schoenberg Hall, discussing “The Future of Journalism.” However, the event has been called off — or, as some organizers have put it, “postponed” — due to student protests, internal dissent, and reported security issues.
Lecture Canceled Due to Increasing Opposition
Activist organizations have accused Bari Weiss of siding with the administration and have taken issue with her previous editorial choices at CBS.MEGA.
Student Protests Intensify
As reported by The Daily Bruin, Weiss will not be present on campus for the lecture, although the organizers are considering a virtual alternative. The Los Angeles Times referenced a source close to the program indicating that Weiss’ team withdrew due to security issues, even though UCLA had offered increased protection.
The Daniel Pearl Memorial Lecture, organized by UCLA’s Burkle Center for International Relations, has previously showcased prominent journalists such as Jake Tapper, Anderson Cooper, and Bob Woodward. The choice of Weiss sparked immediate criticism.
The request to cancel the event amassed almost 11,000 signatures.UNSPLASH
Controversial Editorial Choices
A petition urging the cancellation of the event amassed almost 11,000 signatures. The activist organization CodePink spearheaded the opposition, accusing Weiss of being aligned with President Donald Trump’s administration and condemning her previous editorial choices at CBS, including her initial decision to withdraw a 60 Minutes segment that investigated alleged mistreatment of deportees sent to a prison in El Salvador. The report eventually aired in January.
Margaret Peters, the associate director of the Burkle Center and the vice chair for graduate studies in the Department of Political Science, informed The Daily Bruin that she would step down from her position at the Burkle Center if the event proceeded in any capacity, claiming that inviting Weiss would compromise the university’s mission. She asserted that Weiss insincerely employs “free speech” to target those with opposing views.
“Inviting someone who opposes that mission from influential positions feels fundamentally contradictory to the university’s purpose,” Peters remarked to the publication.
Security Concerns Raised
CBS Chaos and Political Currents
Critics argued that during Bari Weiss’ time at the helm, CBS News has moved towards a more conservative stance. UNSPLASH
Weiss’ withdrawn appearance occurs during a time of significant turmoil at CBS News. Following Paramount’s acquisition of Weiss’ media firm The Free Press for $150 million and her appointment as editor-in-chief, the network has been confronted with accusations of censorship, impending layoffs, and internal reorganization.
Promotion
Speculation has emerged regarding possible job cuts, and it has been reported that some employees at CBS Evening News have been offered voluntary buyouts.
Weiss has expressed her intention to transform CBS News into a platform suitable for the 21st century, yet some critics contend that her tenure has been marked by political and editorial disputes. Certain opponents assert that the network has moved towards the right in response to regulatory oversight from the Federal Communications Commission, which is currently under the leadership of a Trump appointee.
The cancellation of the UCLA lecture coincided with CBS facing a different confrontation related to The Late Show With Stephen Colbert and the FCC’s equal-time regulation, heightening the existing tensions surrounding journalism, politics, and free expression.
Platforming, Activism, and Societal Views
The canceled lecture elicited a variety of responses on social media, with some voicing worries about academic freedom. MEGA
Responses on social media to the canceled lecture varied widely, with some celebrating the decision while others expressed worries about academic freedom. Critics labeled Weiss’ appointment as “offensive,” whereas some viewed the cancellation as a sign of increasing intolerance on campuses towards controversial individuals.
For Weiss — who left The New York Times in 2020 due to ideological conflicts and established The Free Press as a counter-media outlet — the incident at UCLA highlights the extent to which her presence has become divisive.
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