Ex- NYT Columnist to Lead CBS Post Paramount Acquisition
Paramount has named ex- NYT commentator Bari Weiss to lead CBS News, signaling the most recent move by new owners to restructure workings of a major US news organisations.
The company is furthermore buying The Free Press, the web-based platform Weiss founded after her acrimonious separation from the New York Times, in a arrangement said to be worth $150 million.
Ms Weiss, who has criticised network journalism for becoming excessively biased, said she was eager to put her stamp on CBS, which was purchased by David Ellison earlier this year as part of a wider merger with Paramount.
History of the New Leader
Ms Weiss, who commenced her work at Jewish publications, is noted for her support of Israel and her questioning of "cancel culture".
Beginning as a digital bulletin in 2021, The Free Press has gained 1.5 million subscribers, including over 170,000 subscribing supporters.
It has drawn attention for reports 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 authors include scholar Niall Ferguson and economic thinker Tyler Cowen.
Strategic Plans
Mr Ellison said the selection of Ms Weiss as top editorial position was part of a bigger effort to refresh programming at Paramount and make CBS the "most credible name in news".
"We think the majority of the country wants news that is even-handed and fact-based, and we want CBS to be their source," he said.
Additional Shifts at CBS
Specifics of the agreement were not disclosed. Paramount would not address reports that the company had paid $150 million in shares and money.
Mr Ellison made his name as a Hollywood movie maker of major films such as Top Gun Maverick, True Grit and World War Z.
He has said his objective is to produce journalism that is less politically skewed, and therefore has the capacity to reach all viewers.
His acquisition of Paramount was approved by oversight bodies this recent period, after the company consented to pay $16 million to resolve a legal action.
To secure clearance of the deal, Mr Ellison agreed to establish an independent ombudsman at CBS to examine concerns of partiality and vowed to oversight bodies that content would include a range of view points.
He also said CBS's long-running political show "Face the Nation" would discontinue air edited interviews.
Partnership Details
CBS News has a working relationship with a global news organization, meaning news content including video footage can be distributed.
In a message revealing the arrangement, Ms Weiss said she had faith in the Paramount boss and his leadership team.
"They are committing fully because they believe in news. Because they have conviction. Because they cherish this country. And because they understand, as we do, that America cannot prosper without shared information, universal realities, and a common reality," she commented.