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The media conglomerate has appointed former New York Times commentator Bari Weiss to oversee CBS News, representing the most recent initiative by new owners to reorganize operations of a prominent American news organisations.

The company is furthermore buying The Free Press, the digital outlet Weiss started after her disputed departure from the New York Times, in a agreement said to be worth $150 million.

Ms Weiss, who has challenged network journalism for becoming too partisan, said she was eager to influence CBS, which was acquired by David Ellison recently as part of a wider merger with Paramount.

Profile of the New Leader

Ms Weiss, who commenced her work at Jewish publications, is noted for her advocacy of Israel and her criticism of "cancel culture".

Beginning as a newsletter in 2021, The Free Press has accumulated 1.5 million followers, including in excess of 170,000 paid subscribers.

It has drawn attention for reports such as a feature questioning of NPR by one of its previous business editors, as well as an investigation of some photos used by mainstream news outlets to showcase famine in Gaza.

Notable writers include academic Niall Ferguson and economist Tyler Cowen.

Future Direction

Mr Ellison said the hiring of Ms Weiss as top editorial position was part of a larger campaign to update programming at Paramount and make CBS the "most-trusted name in news".

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

More Change at CBS

Terms of the arrangement were not made public. Paramount refused to discuss reports that the company had paid $150 million in shares and money.

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 goal is to produce reporting that is less partisan, and therefore has the ability to connect with all demographics.

His takeover of Paramount was cleared by regulators this season, after the company consented to pay $16 million to settle a court case.

To secure clearance of the acquisition, Mr Ellison pledged to create an independent ombudsman at CBS to review allegations of partiality and promised to authorities that content would include a variety of view points.

He additionally said CBS's veteran political show "Face the Nation" would no longer air edited interviews.

Partnership Details

CBS News has a partnership agreement with a global news organization, meaning news reporting including video footage can be distributed.

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

"They are making significant investments because they believe in news. Because they have bravery. Because they value this country. And because they understand, as we do, that America cannot thrive without common facts, common truths, and a common reality," she wrote.