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Paramount has selected former New York Times columnist Bari Weiss to oversee CBS News, signaling the most recent initiative by recent acquirers to reshape activities of a major US news organisations.

The company is furthermore buying The Free Press, the online publication Weiss started after her contentious separation from the New York Times, in a deal reported 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 in recent months as part of a wider merger with Paramount.

History of the Executive

Ms Weiss, who started her career at Jewish news outlets, is recognized for her backing of Israel and her skepticism of "call-out culture".

Since its start as a newsletter in 2021, The Free Press has attracted 1.5 million followers, including more than 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 showcase famine in Gaza.

Big name authors include historian Niall Ferguson and financial expert Tyler Cowen.

Future Direction

Mr Ellison said the selection of Ms Weiss as chief editor was part of a bigger campaign to modernize coverage at Paramount and make CBS the "most reliable name in news".

"We believe the majority of the country longs for news that is fair and accurate, and we want CBS to be their destination," he said.

More Change at CBS

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

Mr Ellison made his name as a Hollywood film producer of hit movies such as Top Gun Maverick, True Grit and World War Z.

He has said his aim is to produce coverage that is more balanced politically, and therefore has the ability to engage all demographics.

His acquisition of Paramount was authorized by oversight bodies this season, after the company agreed to pay $16 million to resolve a legal action.

To win approval of the transaction, Mr Ellison pledged to install an external reviewer at CBS to examine concerns of bias and vowed to regulators that programming would include a diversity of opinions.

He additionally said CBS's long-running political show "Face the Nation" would cease to air edited interviews.

Collaboration Information

CBS News has a collaborative arrangement with a global news organization, meaning news content including visual material can be distributed.

In a note declaring the deal, Ms Weiss said she had faith in the Paramount executive and his management group.

"They are doubling down because they have faith in news. Because they have courage. Because they cherish this country. And because they understand, as we do, that America cannot prosper without mutual understanding, common truths, and a common reality," she wrote.