CBS News Hires Public Radio Veteran Mike Pesca as Editorial Director for Podcasting

CBS News has appointed veteran journalist and podcaster Mike Pesca as its new Editorial Director for Podcasting, signaling a strategic pivot toward digital audio following the recent closure of its legacy radio network. The move comes as the organization looks to revitalize its audio journalism slate under the leadership of Editor in Chief Bari Weiss. This hire is significant for the industry as it demonstrates a major legacy news brand's commitment to original podcasting content despite the sunsetting of traditional broadcast operations.

CBS News has named Mike Pesca as Editorial Director for Podcasting, a move that follows the shuttering of CBS News Radio on May 22 after 99 years of operation. Pesca joins the network shortly after concluding a run of more than 3,000 episodes as the host of "The Gist." CBS News Editor in Chief Bari Weiss, who has previously worked with Pesca at her media outlet Free Press, expressed enthusiasm for the recruitment on social media. The appointment suggests that while CBS has moved away from its century-old radio flagship, it remains committed to audio journalism through modern digital formats.

Pesca brings over two decades of experience in audio journalism, having served as a correspondent for NPR and a contributor to programs such as "Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me" and "Talk of the Nation." In 2005, he became the first NPR host to launch an independent podcast, "On Gambling," before moving to Slate in 2014 to start "The Gist." His career has not been without friction; he and "The Gist" split from Slate in 2021 following an internal investigation into his use of racially insensitive language in the workplace, including allegations regarding his use of the n-word in 2019. Both Pesca and Weiss have been noted for their public departures from legacy media organizations over internal cultural and ideological disagreements.

The hire coincides with broader expansion efforts within CBS News’ podcasting division, including the upcoming July 22 launch of "Healthful," a women’s health series hosted by correspondent Norah O’Donnell. Pesca has characterized the current state of the industry as an "inflection point" where algorithm-driven video and chat-based formats are increasingly overshadowing the in-depth audio content for which the medium was originally known. Despite these shifts, Pesca maintains that there is a fundamental human need for audio-only storytelling. CBS's investment in high-profile talent like Pesca and O'Donnell indicates a push to capture this market through specialized, personality-driven programming.