đŸ”— Share this article Former NYT Writer Appointed to Head CBS After Paramount Deal The media conglomerate has appointed former New York Times commentator Bari Weiss to lead CBS News, representing the latest initiative by current leadership to reorganize activities of one of America's leading news networks. The company is also acquiring The Free Press, the online publication Weiss started after her acrimonious separation from the New York Times, in a arrangement said to be worth $150 million. Ms Weiss, who has challenged television news for becoming overly political, said she was excited to shape CBS, which was purchased by David Ellison in recent months as part of a broader merger with Paramount. History of the Executive Ms Weiss, who started her career at Jewish news outlets, is noted for her backing of Israel and her criticism of "cancel culture". Since its start as a digital bulletin in 2021, The Free Press has gained 1.5 million readers, including more than 170,000 paid subscribers. It has drawn attention for coverage such as a piece questioning of NPR by one of its ex- business editors, as well as an investigation of some photos used by established media to illustrate famine in Gaza. Notable writers include academic Niall Ferguson and financial expert Tyler Cowen. Vision for CBS Mr Ellison said the appointment of Ms Weiss as editor-in-chief was part of a bigger initiative to update coverage at Paramount and make CBS the "most-trusted name in news". "We think the bulk of the country longs for news that is even-handed and fact-based, and we want CBS to be their destination," he said. More Change at CBS Details of the deal were not made public. Paramount refused to discuss stories that the company had paid $150 million in equity and currency. Mr Ellison established his reputation as a Hollywood movie maker of blockbusters such as Top Gun Maverick, True Grit and World War Z. He has said his aim is to produce coverage that is less partisan, and therefore has the ability to reach all viewers. His takeover of Paramount was approved by regulators this recent period, after the company agreed to pay $16 million to conclude a court case. To secure clearance of the deal, Mr Ellison pledged to establish an external reviewer at CBS to assess complaints of partiality and promised to oversight bodies that coverage would reflect a range of view points. He additionally said CBS's established political show "Face the Nation" would cease to air edited interviews. Partnership Details CBS News has a partnership agreement with a global news organization, meaning news material including recorded segments can be distributed. In a note announcing the arrangement, Ms Weiss said she believed in the Paramount executive and his leadership team. "They are committing fully because they have faith in news. Because they have bravery. Because they love this country. And because they understand, as we do, that America cannot succeed without common facts, agreed principles, and a unified worldview," she stated.