Former NYT Writer to Lead CBS After Paramount Acquisition
The media conglomerate has named former New York Times commentator Bari Weiss to lead CBS News, representing the newest step by recent acquirers to restructure workings of a prominent American news networks.
Paramount is also buying The Free Press, the online publication Weiss founded after her acrimonious departure from the New York Times, in a deal estimated to be worth $150 million.
Ms Weiss, who has criticised television news for becoming too partisan, said she was excited to put her stamp on CBS, which was taken over by David Ellison recently as part of a broader merger with Paramount.
Background of the Appointee
Ms Weiss, who started her career at Jewish news outlets, is noted for her advocacy of Israel and her skepticism of "call-out culture".
Beginning as a newsletter in 2021, The Free Press has accumulated 1.5 million readers, including more than 170,000 subscribing supporters.
It has garnered notice for articles such as a article critical of NPR by one of its previous business editors, as well as an analysis of some photographs used by mainstream news outlets to illustrate famine in Gaza.
Notable writers include scholar Niall Ferguson and economist Tyler Cowen.
Future Direction
Mr Ellison said the selection of Ms Weiss as chief editor was part of a larger initiative to update coverage at Paramount and make CBS the "most reliable name in news".
"We are convinced the greater part of the country desires 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 refused to discuss stories that the corporation had paid $150 million in stock and cash.
Mr Ellison established his reputation as a Hollywood movie maker of major films such as Top Gun Maverick, True Grit and World War Z.
He has said his aim is to produce reporting that is more balanced politically, and therefore has the potential to engage all audiences.
His purchase of Paramount was approved by regulators this summer, after the company committed to pay $16 million to conclude a court case.
To win approval of the acquisition, Mr Ellison pledged to install an impartial arbitrator at CBS to examine concerns of bias and promised to oversight bodies that programming would reflect a diversity of opinions.
He further said CBS's established political show "Face the Nation" would discontinue air modified discussions.
Partnership Details
CBS News has a collaborative arrangement with another major network, meaning news content including visual material can be distributed.
In a message declaring the agreement, Ms Weiss said she had faith in the Paramount boss and his executive staff.
"They are making significant investments because they have faith in news. Because they have courage. Because they love this country. And because they recognize, as we do, that America cannot thrive without common facts, universal realities, and a unified worldview," she stated.
