🔗 Share this article

The media conglomerate has named former New York Times commentator Bari Weiss to oversee CBS News, representing the newest step by current leadership to restructure activities of one of America's leading news networks.

The company is additionally acquiring The Free Press, the web-based platform Weiss started after her disputed exit from the New York Times, in a agreement said to be worth $150 million.

Ms Weiss, who has criticised network journalism for becoming excessively biased, said she was eager to shape CBS, which was purchased by David Ellison recently as part of a wider merger with Paramount.

Profile of the New Leader

Ms Weiss, who began her professional journey at Jewish media organizations, is known for her advocacy of Israel and her skepticism of "woke culture".

Beginning as a email publication in 2021, The Free Press has accumulated 1.5 million readers, including in excess of 170,000 paying members.

It has garnered notice for reports such as a piece questioning of NPR by one of its ex- business editors, as well as an investigation of some images used by mainstream news outlets to illustrate famine in Gaza.

Big name authors include academic Niall Ferguson and financial expert Tyler Cowen.

Vision for CBS

Mr Ellison said the hiring of Ms Weiss as editor-in-chief was part of a broader effort to refresh coverage at Paramount and make CBS the "most reliable name in news".

"We think the bulk of the country desires news that is balanced and fact-based, and we want CBS to be their source," he said.

More Change at CBS

Details of the arrangement were not disclosed. Paramount would not address accounts that the firm had paid $150 million in equity and currency.

Mr Ellison built his career as a Hollywood film producer of blockbusters such as Top Gun Maverick, True Grit and World War Z.

He has said his goal is to produce reporting that is less politically skewed, and therefore has the capacity to engage all demographics.

His purchase of Paramount was approved by oversight bodies this season, after the company committed to pay $16 million to conclude a court case.

To secure clearance of the deal, Mr Ellison agreed to establish an external reviewer at CBS to examine concerns of bias and committed to regulators that coverage would include a range of view points.

He additionally said CBS's veteran political show "Face the Nation" would cease to air modified discussions.

Partnership Details

CBS News has a partnership agreement with a global news organization, meaning news content including recorded segments can be distributed.

In a statement announcing the agreement, Ms Weiss said she believed in the Paramount executive and his executive staff.

"They are doubling down because they believe in news. Because they have conviction. Because they cherish this country. And because they recognize, as we do, that America cannot thrive without common facts, universal realities, and a common reality," she wrote.