Ex- New York Times Journalist to Lead CBS After Paramount Deal
The media conglomerate has selected ex- NYT opinion writer Bari Weiss to oversee CBS News, representing the latest initiative by new owners to restructure activities of a major US news networks.
Paramount is furthermore acquiring The Free Press, the online publication Weiss established after her contentious exit from the New York Times, in a deal estimated to be worth $150 million.
Ms Weiss, who has challenged television news for becoming overly political, said she was eager to put her stamp on CBS, which was taken over by David Ellison earlier this year as part of a larger merger with Paramount.
History of the New Leader
Ms Weiss, who began her professional journey at Jewish publications, is known for her backing of Israel and her criticism of "call-out culture".
From its inception as a digital bulletin in 2021, The Free Press has accumulated 1.5 million subscribers, including more than 170,000 paid subscribers.
It has received recognition for reports such as a piece critical of NPR by one of its ex- business editors, as well as an investigation of some photographs used by traditional journalism to depict famine in Gaza.
Big name authors include historian Niall Ferguson and economic thinker Tyler Cowen.
Future Direction
Mr Ellison said the hiring of Ms Weiss as top editorial position was part of a broader campaign to update content at Paramount and make CBS the "most reliable name in news".
"We believe the greater part of the country longs for news that is even-handed and fact-based, and we want CBS to be their home," he said.
Further Developments at CBS
Details of the agreement were not revealed. Paramount refused to discuss accounts that the firm had paid $150 million in stock and cash.
Mr Ellison built his career as a Hollywood movie maker of hit movies such as Top Gun Maverick, True Grit and World War Z.
He has said his goal is to produce coverage that is more balanced politically, and therefore has the potential to engage all viewers.
His acquisition of Paramount was approved by oversight bodies this recent period, after the company committed to pay $16 million to settle a legal action.
To win approval of the acquisition, Mr Ellison pledged to install an impartial arbitrator at CBS to assess complaints of bias and promised to regulators that content would include a diversity of perspectives.
He also said CBS's long-running political show "Face the Nation" would cease to air modified discussions.
Collaboration Information
CBS News has a partnership agreement with another major network, meaning news content including recorded segments can be distributed.
In a note declaring the arrangement, Ms Weiss said she believed in the Paramount leader and his management group.
"They are doubling down because they believe in news. Because they have courage. Because they value this country. And because they recognize, as we do, that America cannot thrive without shared information, universal realities, and a shared perspective," she wrote.
