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Paramount has named ex- New York Times commentator Bari Weiss to direct CBS News, representing the most recent step by current leadership to reshape workings of a prominent American news outlets.

Paramount is furthermore buying The Free Press, the online publication Weiss founded after her acrimonious separation from the New York Times, in a agreement reported to be worth $150 million.

Ms Weiss, who has criticised broadcast media for becoming overly political, said she was excited to put her stamp on CBS, which was purchased by David Ellison in recent months as part of a broader merger with Paramount.

History of the New Leader

Ms Weiss, who began her professional journey at Jewish media organizations, is noted for her backing of Israel and her questioning of "woke culture".

Beginning as a newsletter in 2021, The Free Press has accumulated 1.5 million readers, including more than 170,000 paid subscribers.

It has drawn attention for coverage such as a feature critical of NPR by one of its former business editors, as well as an analysis of some photos used by mainstream news outlets to showcase famine in Gaza.

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

Vision for CBS

Mr Ellison said the selection of Ms Weiss as top editorial position was part of a broader campaign to update coverage at Paramount and make CBS the "most reliable name in news".

"We believe the greater part of the country wants news that is fair and fact-based, and we want CBS to be their destination," he said.

Further Developments at CBS

Specifics of the agreement were not revealed. Paramount would not address reports that the firm had paid $150 million in stock and cash.

Mr Ellison built his career as a Hollywood movie maker of major films 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 capacity to reach all audiences.

His acquisition of Paramount was cleared by government authorities this recent period, after the company committed to pay $16 million to resolve a court case.

To win approval of the acquisition, Mr Ellison committed to install an external reviewer at CBS to review complaints of partiality and committed to regulators that content would showcase a diversity of view points.

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 a global news organization, meaning news content including visual material can be shared.

In a message announcing the arrangement, Ms Weiss said she believed in the Paramount leader and his management group.

"They are committing fully because they have faith in news. Because they have courage. Because they love this country. And because they recognize, as we do, that America cannot succeed without common facts, universal realities, and a unified worldview," she stated.