Ex- NYT Columnist Appointed to Head CBS After Paramount Acquisition

The media conglomerate has named former NYT opinion writer Bari Weiss to oversee CBS News, signaling the newest initiative by recent acquirers to restructure activities of a prominent American news outlets.

Paramount is furthermore acquiring 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 broadcast media for becoming overly political, said she was enthusiastic to influence CBS, which was purchased by David Ellison recently as part of a wider merger with Paramount.

Background of the Appointee

Ms Weiss, who started her career at Jewish media organizations, is noted for her backing of Israel and her questioning of "cancel culture".

From its inception as a newsletter in 2021, The Free Press has gained 1.5 million subscribers, including more than 170,000 subscribing supporters.

It has received recognition for coverage such as a piece skeptical of NPR by one of its ex- business editors, as well as an examination of some photos used by traditional journalism to showcase famine in Gaza.

Big name authors include academic Niall Ferguson and financial expert Tyler Cowen.

Vision for CBS

Mr Ellison said the appointment of Ms Weiss as top editorial position was part of a broader campaign to update content at Paramount and make CBS the "most-trusted name in news".

"We are convinced the greater part of the country wants news that is even-handed and fact-based, and we want CBS to be their home," he said.

Additional Shifts at CBS

Terms of the deal were not made public. Paramount declined to comment reports that the firm had paid $150 million in equity and currency.

Mr Ellison established his reputation as a Hollywood film producer of hit movies such as Top Gun Maverick, True Grit and World War Z.

He has said his aim is to produce reporting that is less politically skewed, and therefore has the potential to connect with all viewers.

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

To win approval of the transaction, Mr Ellison pledged to establish an external reviewer at CBS to review concerns of prejudice and promised to regulators that coverage would reflect a variety of view points.

He also said CBS's established political show "Face the Nation" would cease to air modified discussions.

Partnership Details

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

In a message declaring the agreement, Ms Weiss said she trusted in the Paramount executive and his executive staff.

"They are doubling down because they have faith in news. Because they have courage. Because they cherish this country. And because they appreciate, as we do, that America cannot thrive without mutual understanding, universal realities, and a common reality," she wrote.