Former New York Times Writer Appointed to Head CBS Post Paramount Deal
Paramount has selected former NYT commentator Bari Weiss to lead CBS News, signaling the newest step by new owners to restructure workings of one of America's leading news networks.
Paramount is also acquiring The Free Press, the online publication Weiss founded after her acrimonious departure from the New York Times, in a arrangement estimated to be worth $150 million.
Ms Weiss, who has questioned network journalism for becoming too partisan, said she was eager to influence CBS, which was purchased by David Ellison earlier this year as part of a broader merger with Paramount.
History of the Executive
Ms Weiss, who commenced her work at Jewish publications, is known for her advocacy of Israel and her questioning of "cancel culture".
From its inception as a newsletter in 2021, The Free Press has attracted 1.5 million subscribers, including more than 170,000 paid subscribers.
It has garnered notice for coverage such as a piece questioning of NPR by one of its previous business editors, as well as an investigation of some photographs used by mainstream news outlets to depict famine in Gaza.
Big name authors include scholar Niall Ferguson and financial expert Tyler Cowen.
Vision for CBS
Mr Ellison said the appointment of Ms Weiss as top editorial position was part of a bigger initiative to update content at Paramount and make CBS the "most-trusted name in news".
"We think the majority of the country longs for news that is even-handed and accurate, and we want CBS to be their home," he said.
Further Developments at CBS
Details of the agreement were not made public. Paramount declined to comment reports that the company had paid $150 million in equity and currency.
Mr Ellison built his career as a Hollywood movie maker of major films such as Top Gun Maverick, True Grit and World War Z.
He has said his aim is to produce journalism that is less politically skewed, and therefore has the potential to reach all viewers.
His acquisition of Paramount was authorized by oversight bodies this summer, after the company agreed to pay $16 million to conclude a legal action.
To secure clearance of the acquisition, Mr Ellison agreed to create an impartial arbitrator at CBS to assess allegations of prejudice and promised to regulators that content would include a range of view points.
He also said CBS's established political show "Face the Nation" would discontinue air modified discussions.
Alliance Facts
CBS News has a working relationship with an international broadcaster, meaning news reporting including visual material can be exchanged.
In a statement declaring the arrangement, Ms Weiss said she believed in the Paramount leader and his management group.
"They are committing fully because they support news. Because they have conviction. Because they cherish this country. And because they appreciate, as we do, that America cannot thrive without shared information, universal realities, and a shared perspective," she wrote.
