Sir Trevor Phillips tells CBS colleagues to 'fuck off' critics in heated meeting

Veteran broadcaster's blunt advice comes as network faces accusations of conservative tilt under new owner David Ellison

By LineZotpaper

Published15 October 2026

Read Time3 min

Veteran British broadcaster Sir Trevor Phillips advised CBS News colleagues to respond to critics of the network's editorial integrity with a blunt dismissal during a contentious meeting of the network's London bureau on Tuesday, according to an audio recording reviewed by The Guardian.

Sir Trevor Phillips, the veteran British broadcaster who joined CBS News earlier this year as senior global affairs correspondent, told colleagues that when facing critics who question the network's editorial independence, they should say: "Why don't you just fuck off and let us do our jobs?"

The comment came during a meeting of the London bureau on Tuesday in which foreign editor Shayndi Raice went on a lengthy tirade criticising unnamed staffers for suggesting that editorial oversight amounted to "interference". Raice informed colleagues that disobeying editors would be insubordination and "legal grounds for firing".

Phillips initially spoke up to defend Raice, saying her message was common sense. "I'm genuinely surprised that you had to say anything that you just said in the last 15 minutes," he said. "It just seems to be axiomatic in any organisation ... I did want to say that I'm kind of surprised that in an organisation of this vintage and capability, with the clever people I've met around here, that any of this actually has to be said."

He then turned to outside criticism of CBS, noting that after his move from Sky News was announced, many people told him it would end his career. Phillips said: "I could spend the next hour telling you the number of people when it was announced that I was coming here, the number of people who told me for all of the reasons you just explained, why this is the end of my career and how I was going to destroy everything that I've ever created, and all of that bollocks."

Phillips argued that journalists now face a "new game" in which critics try to "knock us off - to frighten us, essentially, into doing this or doing that". He said this puts a premium on objectivity and "having each other's backs".

The meeting comes amid ongoing tensions at CBS News following the acquisition of parent company Paramount Global by David Ellison's Skydance Media in summer 2025. The billionaire owner installed opinion journalist Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief in a move that shook staff, and the network has faced accusations of tilting editorial coverage in a more conservative-friendly direction. A CBS News spokesperson and Phillips declined to comment on the meeting.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

The incident highlights ongoing internal tensions at CBS News following its acquisition by Skydance Media and the appointment of Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief, raising questions about editorial independence under new ownership.
Phillips's blunt remarks reflect a broader battle between journalists and critics over accusations of bias in major US news organisations.
The meeting suggests significant staff unrest over the direction of the network, with foreign editor Raice threatening disciplinary action against those who question editorial oversight.

Background

CBS News was acquired by Skydance Media, owned by billionaire David Ellison, in mid-2025. The takeover led to the appointment of Bari Weiss, a former New York Times opinion journalist with no traditional broadcast news background, as editor-in-chief. The move was met with concern from staff who feared a rightward editorial shift. Ellison has denied politicising Skydance despite close ties to Donald Trump. Sir Trevor Phillips, a long-serving Sky News presenter known for his outspoken style, joined CBS News as senior global affairs correspondent in June 2026, also becoming a contributor to 60 Minutes.

Key Perspectives

Sir Trevor Phillips: Argues that journalists must show solidarity against external critics who try to intimidate them, and that the core values of objectivity and mutual support are more important than ever. He sees the backlash to his own appointment as evidence of a wider campaign to pressure journalists. Shayndi Raice (CBS foreign editor): Emphasised that editorial oversight is non-negotiable and that disobeying editors constitutes insubordination with legal consequences, suggesting a need to reassert editorial authority within the bureau. Critics and sceptics: Those who question CBS's direction under new ownership view Phillips's comments as dismissive of legitimate concerns about editorial integrity. The network's detractors, including some staff, see the meeting as evidence of a top-down effort to suppress dissent and align coverage with a conservative agenda.

What to Watch

Whether further audio recordings or staff accounts of similar meetings emerge, revealing the depth of internal dissent.
Any public statements from David Ellison or Bari Weiss addressing the allegations of editorial interference.
Potential staff departures or public protests from CBS News journalists if tensions continue to escalate.

Sources

Sir Trevor Phillips encouraged CBS News colleagues to tell critics to ‘fuck off’ — Business | The Guardian