🔗 Share this article Ex- NYT Journalist Appointed to Head CBS Post Paramount Deal The media conglomerate has selected ex- New York Times opinion writer Bari Weiss to oversee CBS News, representing the newest step by new owners to restructure workings of a prominent American news organisations. The company is additionally buying The Free Press, the web-based platform Weiss founded after her contentious departure from the New York Times, in a deal estimated to be worth $150 million. Ms Weiss, who has challenged television news for becoming overly political, said she was excited to put her stamp on CBS, which was taken over by David Ellison earlier this year as part of a broader merger with Paramount. Background of the Executive Ms Weiss, who commenced her work at Jewish media organizations, is known for her backing of Israel and her skepticism of "call-out culture". Since its start as a digital bulletin in 2021, The Free Press has accumulated 1.5 million followers, including over 170,000 paying members. It has drawn attention for articles such as a article critical of NPR by one of its former business editors, as well as an analysis of some photographs used by mainstream news outlets to depict famine in Gaza. Prominent contributors include scholar Niall Ferguson and financial expert Tyler Cowen. Vision for CBS Mr Ellison said the hiring of Ms Weiss as editor-in-chief was part of a bigger initiative to refresh coverage at Paramount and make CBS the "most credible name in news". "We think the greater part of the country desires news that is even-handed and accurate, and we want CBS to be their source," he said. More Change at CBS Specifics of the agreement were not revealed. Paramount declined to comment accounts that the corporation had paid $150 million in stock and cash. Mr Ellison made his name 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 reporting that is less partisan, and therefore has the capacity to engage all demographics. His purchase of Paramount was approved by regulators this season, after the company agreed to pay $16 million to settle a court case. To win approval of the deal, Mr Ellison agreed to install an impartial arbitrator at CBS to examine concerns of partiality and promised to authorities that content would include a diversity of perspectives. He further said CBS's veteran political show "Face the Nation" would discontinue air modified discussions. Alliance Facts CBS News has a collaborative arrangement with a global news organization, meaning news reporting including recorded segments can be shared. In a message revealing the deal, Ms Weiss said she had faith in the Paramount executive and his leadership team. "They are committing fully because they have faith in news. Because they have courage. Because they value this country. And because they appreciate, as we do, that America cannot succeed without shared information, common truths, and a common reality," she wrote.