🔗 Share this article Ex- New York Times Writer Appointed to Head CBS Post Paramount Acquisition The media conglomerate has named former New York Times columnist Bari Weiss to oversee CBS News, representing the newest initiative by recent acquirers to reorganize activities of a major US news organisations. The company is also buying The Free Press, the online publication Weiss started after her contentious departure from the New York Times, in a deal said to be worth $150 million. Ms Weiss, who has challenged 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 larger merger with Paramount. History of the New Leader Ms Weiss, who began her professional journey at Jewish media organizations, is recognized for her backing of Israel and her questioning of "woke culture". From its inception as a email publication in 2021, The Free Press has attracted 1.5 million followers, including over 170,000 paying members. It has received recognition for coverage such as a piece skeptical of NPR by one of its former business editors, as well as an investigation of some images used by mainstream news outlets to showcase famine in Gaza. Prominent contributors include historian Niall Ferguson and economic thinker Tyler Cowen. Strategic Plans Mr Ellison said the hiring of Ms Weiss as top editorial position was part of a bigger initiative to refresh programming at Paramount and make CBS the "most reliable name in news". "We believe the bulk of the country wants news that is fair and truthful, and we want CBS to be their destination," he said. More Change at CBS Details of the arrangement were not disclosed. Paramount declined to comment stories that the company had paid $150 million in equity and currency. Mr Ellison built his career as a Hollywood movie maker of blockbusters such as Top Gun Maverick, True Grit and World War Z. He has said his objective is to produce reporting that is more balanced politically, and therefore has the ability to engage all audiences. His takeover of Paramount was cleared by oversight bodies this summer, after the company consented to pay $16 million to settle a court case. To win approval of the acquisition, Mr Ellison agreed to install an impartial arbitrator at CBS to review allegations of bias and promised to oversight bodies that coverage would reflect a variety of view points. He further said CBS's veteran political show "Face the Nation" would no longer air edited interviews. Partnership Details CBS News has a collaborative arrangement with another major network, meaning news material including visual material can be shared. In a statement declaring the arrangement, Ms Weiss said she believed in the Paramount executive and his leadership team. "They are doubling down because they believe in news. Because they have conviction. Because they love this country. And because they appreciate, as we do, that America cannot succeed without mutual understanding, universal realities, and a unified worldview," she stated.