Former NYT Writer Appointed to Head CBS Post Paramount Acquisition
The media conglomerate has appointed ex- New York Times opinion writer Bari Weiss to lead CBS News, marking the most recent move by new owners to restructure workings of one of America's leading news networks.
The company is also buying The Free Press, the web-based platform Weiss started after her disputed departure from the New York Times, in a arrangement reported to be worth $150 million.
Ms Weiss, who has criticised broadcast media for becoming excessively biased, said she was enthusiastic to put her stamp on CBS, which was taken over by David Ellison recently as part of a wider merger with Paramount.
Background of the New Leader
Ms Weiss, who commenced her work at Jewish publications, is noted for her support of Israel and her skepticism of "cancel culture".
From its inception as a newsletter in 2021, The Free Press has accumulated 1.5 million subscribers, including more than 170,000 paid subscribers.
It has drawn attention for coverage such as a piece critical of NPR by one of its ex- business editors, as well as an analysis of some photographs used by traditional journalism to illustrate famine in Gaza.
Notable authors include historian Niall Ferguson and financial expert Tyler Cowen.
Future Direction
Mr Ellison said the hiring of Ms Weiss as editor-in-chief was part of a larger initiative to update content at Paramount and make CBS the "most-trusted name in news".
"We think the greater part of the country wants news that is even-handed and truthful, and we want CBS to be their home," he said.
Further Developments at CBS
Specifics of the deal were not revealed. Paramount declined to comment accounts that the firm had paid $150 million in shares and money.
Mr Ellison established his reputation as a Hollywood movie maker of hit movies such as Top Gun Maverick, True Grit and World War Z.
He has said his objective is to produce coverage that is less partisan, and therefore has the potential to connect with all audiences.
His acquisition of Paramount was cleared by regulators this season, after the company consented to pay $16 million to conclude a lawsuit.
To win approval of the acquisition, Mr Ellison agreed to establish an impartial arbitrator at CBS to review complaints of partiality and vowed to authorities that programming would include a variety of perspectives.
He additionally said CBS's long-running political show "Face the Nation" would discontinue air altered conversations.
Alliance Facts
CBS News has a collaborative arrangement with a global news organization, meaning news material including recorded segments can be distributed.
In a note declaring the agreement, Ms Weiss said she believed in the Paramount executive and his executive staff.
"They are doubling down because they support news. Because they have courage. Because they value this country. And because they understand, as we do, that America cannot prosper without mutual understanding, agreed principles, and a shared perspective," she wrote.
