Ex- NYT Columnist to Lead CBS Following Paramount Acquisition

Paramount has selected former NYT columnist Bari Weiss to direct CBS News, marking the latest initiative by current leadership to reshape operations of a major US news outlets.

Paramount is also buying The Free Press, the web-based platform Weiss established after her contentious separation from the New York Times, in a agreement estimated to be worth $150 million.

Ms Weiss, who has criticised television news for becoming excessively biased, said she was eager to influence CBS, which was acquired by David Ellison recently as part of a larger merger with Paramount.

History of the Executive

Ms Weiss, who started her career at Jewish media organizations, is noted for her backing of Israel and her questioning of "woke culture".

Beginning as a newsletter in 2021, The Free Press has gained 1.5 million subscribers, including more than 170,000 subscribing supporters.

It has received recognition for articles such as a piece skeptical of NPR by one of its former business editors, as well as an examination of some images used by traditional journalism to depict famine in Gaza.

Prominent writers include historian Niall Ferguson and economist Tyler Cowen.

Vision for CBS

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

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

Additional Shifts at CBS

Specifics of the arrangement were not revealed. Paramount refused to discuss stories that the company had paid $150 million in shares and money.

Mr Ellison established his reputation as a Hollywood cinematic creator 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 partisan, and therefore has the ability to engage all viewers.

His purchase of Paramount was approved by government authorities this summer, after the company agreed to pay $16 million to settle a legal action.

To secure clearance of the transaction, Mr Ellison pledged to establish an independent ombudsman at CBS to review concerns of partiality and committed to regulators that programming would include a variety of opinions.

He further said CBS's established political show "Face the Nation" would discontinue air modified discussions.

Collaboration Information

CBS News has a partnership agreement with an international broadcaster, meaning news material including video footage can be distributed.

In a statement announcing the agreement, Ms Weiss said she had faith in the Paramount executive and his leadership team.

"They are making significant investments because they support news. Because they have courage. Because they love this country. And because they recognize, as we do, that America cannot prosper without common facts, universal realities, and a common reality," she stated.