Former NYT Writer to Lead CBS After Paramount Merger

The media conglomerate has selected former New York Times commentator Bari Weiss to lead CBS News, representing the newest initiative by current leadership to restructure workings of one of America's leading news networks.

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

Ms Weiss, who has challenged network journalism for becoming overly political, said she was eager to shape CBS, which was acquired by David Ellison recently as part of a wider merger with Paramount.

History of the Appointee

Ms Weiss, who commenced her work at Jewish media organizations, is noted for her support of Israel and her questioning of "call-out culture".

Since its start as a email publication in 2021, The Free Press has accumulated 1.5 million readers, including in excess of 170,000 paying members.

It has garnered notice for articles such as a feature skeptical of NPR by one of its former business editors, as well as an analysis of some photos used by mainstream news outlets to showcase famine in Gaza.

Big name contributors include scholar Niall Ferguson and financial expert Tyler Cowen.

Future Direction

Mr Ellison said the hiring of Ms Weiss as chief editor was part of a bigger initiative to update coverage at Paramount and make CBS the "most credible name in news".

"We believe the greater part of the country wants news that is fair and truthful, and we want CBS to be their destination," he said.

More Change at CBS

Terms of the deal were not made public. Paramount refused to discuss reports that the company had paid $150 million in shares and money.

Mr Ellison made his name as a Hollywood cinematic creator of blockbusters such as Top Gun Maverick, True Grit and World War Z.

He has said his goal is to produce reporting that is less politically skewed, and therefore has the capacity to engage all viewers.

His purchase of Paramount was approved by oversight bodies this recent period, after the company consented to pay $16 million to conclude a legal action.

To obtain consent of the acquisition, Mr Ellison agreed to create an independent ombudsman at CBS to examine concerns of partiality and promised to regulators that content would showcase a range of opinions.

He additionally said CBS's long-running political show "Face the Nation" would discontinue air edited interviews.

Alliance Facts

CBS News has a working relationship with an international broadcaster, meaning news material including recorded segments can be exchanged.

In a message revealing the agreement, Ms Weiss said she believed in the Paramount leader and his executive staff.

"They are committing fully because they believe in news. Because they have bravery. Because they value this country. And because they appreciate, as we do, that America cannot succeed without shared information, agreed principles, and a unified worldview," she commented.