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The media conglomerate has selected former NYT commentator Bari Weiss to oversee CBS News, marking the newest initiative by current leadership to restructure activities of a major US news outlets.

Paramount is additionally purchasing The Free Press, the web-based platform Weiss established after her acrimonious separation from the New York Times, in a arrangement said to be worth $150 million.

Ms Weiss, who has challenged network journalism for becoming overly political, said she was excited to influence CBS, which was purchased by David Ellison in recent months as part of a broader merger with Paramount.

History of the Appointee

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

From its inception as a digital bulletin in 2021, The Free Press has gained 1.5 million readers, including in excess of 170,000 paid subscribers.

It has received recognition for coverage such as a feature questioning of NPR by one of its former business editors, as well as an examination of some images used by mainstream news outlets to illustrate famine in Gaza.

Prominent contributors include scholar Niall Ferguson and economist Tyler Cowen.

Future Direction

Mr Ellison said the appointment of Ms Weiss as chief editor was part of a larger effort to refresh content at Paramount and make CBS the "most reliable name in news".

"We are convinced the greater part of the country desires news that is fair and truthful, and we want CBS to be their source," he said.

Further Developments at CBS

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Paramount would not address accounts that the firm had paid $150 million in shares and money.

Mr Ellison built his career as a Hollywood film producer of blockbusters such as Top Gun Maverick, True Grit and World War Z.

He has said his goal is to produce journalism that is less partisan, and therefore has the capacity to connect with all demographics.

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

To obtain consent of the deal, Mr Ellison committed to establish an independent ombudsman at CBS to examine complaints of bias and promised to authorities that programming would include a diversity of perspectives.

He additionally said CBS's established political show "Face the Nation" would cease to air altered conversations.

Collaboration Information

CBS News has a partnership agreement with another major network, meaning news material including video footage can be shared.

In a message revealing the agreement, Ms Weiss said she believed in the Paramount leader and his executive staff.

"They are doubling down because they support news. Because they have conviction. Because they value this country. And because they understand, as we do, that America cannot prosper without mutual understanding, universal realities, and a unified worldview," she wrote.