Ex- NYT Writer Appointed to Head CBS Post Paramount Merger
Paramount has appointed ex- NYT commentator Bari Weiss to oversee CBS News, signaling the most recent initiative by current leadership to restructure workings of one of America's leading news organisations.
Paramount is additionally buying The Free Press, the online publication Weiss founded after her acrimonious exit from the New York Times, in a agreement estimated to be worth $150 million.
Ms Weiss, who has criticised television news for becoming overly political, said she was enthusiastic to influence CBS, which was taken over by David Ellison earlier this year as part of a wider merger with Paramount.
Background of the Appointee
Ms Weiss, who commenced her work at Jewish media organizations, is known for her advocacy of Israel and her criticism of "cancel culture".
Beginning as a email publication in 2021, The Free Press has attracted 1.5 million followers, including more than 170,000 subscribing supporters.
It has garnered notice for coverage such as a piece skeptical of NPR by one of its former business editors, as well as an examination of some images used by traditional journalism to showcase famine in Gaza.
Prominent writers include academic Niall Ferguson and economist Tyler Cowen.
Vision for CBS
Mr Ellison said the selection of Ms Weiss as editor-in-chief was part of a broader effort to modernize programming at Paramount and make CBS the "most credible name in news".
"We think the bulk of the country longs for news that is fair and accurate, and we want CBS to be their destination," he said.
Further Developments at CBS
Specifics of the arrangement were not revealed. Paramount declined to comment stories that the corporation had paid $150 million in stock and cash.
Mr Ellison made his name as a Hollywood film producer of major films such as Top Gun Maverick, True Grit and World War Z.
He has said his goal is to produce journalism that is less politically skewed, and therefore has the ability to engage all audiences.
His takeover of Paramount was approved by government authorities this recent period, after the company agreed to pay $16 million to resolve a lawsuit.
To obtain consent of the transaction, Mr Ellison committed to establish an impartial arbitrator at CBS to examine concerns of bias and committed to regulators that programming would showcase a range of view points.
He also said CBS's established political show "Face the Nation" would discontinue air edited interviews.
Partnership Details
CBS News has a partnership agreement with another major network, meaning news material including visual material can be distributed.
In a statement declaring the arrangement, Ms Weiss said she had faith in the Paramount executive and his leadership team.
"They are doubling down because they believe in news. Because they have courage. Because they value this country. And because they understand, as we do, that America cannot prosper without common facts, universal realities, and a common reality," she wrote.