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Paramount has named ex- New York Times opinion writer Bari Weiss to lead CBS News, signaling the latest initiative by current leadership to reorganize workings of a major US news outlets.

Paramount is also acquiring The Free Press, the online publication Weiss established after her contentious exit from the New York Times, in a deal reported to be worth $150 million.

Ms Weiss, who has challenged network journalism for becoming excessively biased, said she was eager to put her stamp on CBS, which was purchased by David Ellison earlier this year as part of a wider merger with Paramount.

Profile of the Appointee

Ms Weiss, who started her career at Jewish publications, is known for her backing of Israel and her skepticism of "cancel culture".

Since its start as a digital bulletin in 2021, The Free Press has accumulated 1.5 million followers, including in excess of 170,000 paid subscribers.

It has garnered notice for reports such as a article questioning of NPR by one of its previous business editors, as well as an analysis of some images used by traditional journalism to showcase famine in Gaza.

Prominent contributors include academic Niall Ferguson and financial expert Tyler Cowen.

Future Direction

Mr Ellison said the selection of Ms Weiss as editor-in-chief was part of a broader initiative to refresh programming at Paramount and make CBS the "most reliable name in news".

"We think the bulk of the country desires news that is fair and fact-based, and we want CBS to be their home," he said.

Additional Shifts at CBS

Specifics of the agreement were not made public. Paramount would not address accounts that the corporation had paid $150 million in equity and currency.

Mr Ellison made his name as a Hollywood movie maker of major films 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 connect with all viewers.

His purchase of Paramount was approved by oversight bodies this season, after the company agreed to pay $16 million to conclude a legal action.

To obtain consent of the transaction, Mr Ellison committed to install an external reviewer at CBS to assess allegations of partiality and promised to regulators that programming would reflect a diversity of perspectives.

He also said CBS's veteran political show "Face the Nation" would no longer air altered conversations.

Alliance Facts

CBS News has a collaborative arrangement with another major network, meaning news content including video footage can be shared.

In a message revealing the arrangement, Ms Weiss said she believed in the Paramount boss and his leadership team.

"They are making significant investments because they believe in news. Because they have bravery. Because they love this country. And because they appreciate, as we do, that America cannot thrive without shared information, common truths, and a common reality," she commented.