Former New York Times Writer to Lead CBS Post Paramount Merger
The media conglomerate has named ex- New York Times commentator Bari Weiss to oversee CBS News, marking the latest step by recent acquirers to reshape activities of a prominent American news organisations.
The company is furthermore purchasing The Free Press, the web-based platform Weiss established after her acrimonious separation from the New York Times, in a arrangement reported 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 taken over by David Ellison recently as part of a larger merger with Paramount.
Profile of the Executive
Ms Weiss, who started her career at Jewish media organizations, is noted for her support of Israel and her criticism of "cancel culture".
From its inception as a newsletter in 2021, The Free Press has accumulated 1.5 million followers, including more than 170,000 paying members.
It has drawn attention for reports such as a feature skeptical of NPR by one of its previous business editors, as well as an analysis of some photos used by mainstream news outlets to illustrate famine in Gaza.
Big name authors include historian Niall Ferguson and financial expert Tyler Cowen.
Vision for CBS
Mr Ellison said the hiring of Ms Weiss as chief editor was part of a larger effort to refresh content at Paramount and make CBS the "most credible name in news".
"We believe the bulk of the country longs for news that is even-handed and fact-based, and we want CBS to be their destination," he said.
Additional Shifts at CBS
Details of the agreement were not revealed. Paramount declined to comment stories that the firm had paid $150 million in shares and money.
Mr Ellison built his career as a Hollywood cinematic creator of hit movies such as Top Gun Maverick, True Grit and World War Z.
He has said his aim is to produce coverage that is less politically skewed, and therefore has the potential to connect with all audiences.
His purchase of Paramount was approved by regulators this season, after the company agreed to pay $16 million to resolve a legal action.
To secure clearance of the acquisition, Mr Ellison committed to install an external reviewer at CBS to examine complaints of bias and promised to oversight bodies that coverage would showcase a diversity of opinions.
He also said CBS's veteran political show "Face the Nation" would discontinue air edited interviews.
Alliance Facts
CBS News has a partnership agreement with a global news organization, meaning news material including visual material can be exchanged.
In a statement announcing the agreement, Ms Weiss said she trusted in the Paramount boss and his management group.
"They are committing fully because they support news. Because they have conviction. Because they value this country. And because they recognize, as we do, that America cannot prosper without mutual understanding, universal realities, and a unified worldview," she wrote.
