Former NYT Journalist Appointed to Head CBS After Paramount Merger
Paramount has named ex- NYT commentator Bari Weiss to direct CBS News, representing the latest step by current leadership to reorganize workings of a prominent American news outlets.
Paramount is furthermore acquiring The Free Press, the online publication Weiss established after her acrimonious exit from the New York Times, in a agreement estimated to be worth $150 million.
Ms Weiss, who has criticised network journalism for becoming excessively biased, said she was excited to influence CBS, which was acquired by David Ellison recently as part of a broader merger with Paramount.
History of the Executive
Ms Weiss, who started her career at Jewish publications, is recognized for her advocacy of Israel and her criticism of "call-out culture".
Since its start as a newsletter in 2021, The Free Press has gained 1.5 million followers, including over 170,000 paid subscribers.
It has received recognition for coverage such as a feature critical of NPR by one of its former business editors, as well as an investigation of some photographs used by traditional journalism to illustrate famine in Gaza.
Notable contributors 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 larger effort to modernize coverage at Paramount and make CBS the "most-trusted name in news".
"We are convinced the majority of the country longs for news that is fair and truthful, and we want CBS to be their home," he said.
Additional Shifts at CBS
Details of the deal were not revealed. Paramount declined to comment stories that the company had paid $150 million in shares and money.
Mr Ellison established his reputation as a Hollywood cinematic creator of hit movies such as Top Gun Maverick, True Grit and World War Z.
He has said his objective is to produce reporting that is more balanced politically, and therefore has the potential to connect with all viewers.
His acquisition of Paramount was cleared by regulators this recent period, after the company committed to pay $16 million to settle a court case.
To secure clearance of the transaction, Mr Ellison agreed to create an independent ombudsman at CBS to review complaints of bias and committed to authorities that content would showcase a diversity of opinions.
He further said CBS's long-running political show "Face the Nation" would discontinue air edited interviews.
Alliance Facts
CBS News has a collaborative arrangement with an international broadcaster, meaning news material including visual material can be shared.
In a note revealing the arrangement, Ms Weiss said she believed in the Paramount leader and his management group.
"They are committing fully because they believe in news. Because they have conviction. Because they value this country. And because they understand, as we do, that America cannot succeed without mutual understanding, agreed principles, and a shared perspective," she wrote.
