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Paramount has named former New York Times opinion writer Bari Weiss to lead CBS News, signaling the newest move by new owners to reorganize workings of one of America's leading news networks.

Paramount is also acquiring The Free Press, the web-based platform Weiss founded after her disputed exit from the New York Times, in a agreement reported to be worth $150 million.

Ms Weiss, who has questioned network journalism for becoming overly political, said she was enthusiastic to shape 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 news outlets, is known for her support of Israel and her skepticism of "woke culture".

Beginning as a email publication in 2021, The Free Press has accumulated 1.5 million subscribers, including more than 170,000 subscribing supporters.

It has garnered notice for reports such as a article skeptical of NPR by one of its former business editors, as well as an analysis of some photographs used by traditional journalism to illustrate famine in Gaza.

Big name contributors include scholar Niall Ferguson and financial expert Tyler Cowen.

Strategic Plans

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

"We believe the majority of the country desires news that is balanced and truthful, and we want CBS to be their source," he said.

Further Developments at CBS

Details of the agreement were not revealed. Paramount refused to discuss stories that the company had paid $150 million in stock and cash.

Mr Ellison made his name as a Hollywood movie maker of blockbusters such as Top Gun Maverick, True Grit and World War Z.

He has said his aim is to produce reporting that is more balanced politically, and therefore has the potential to connect with all audiences.

His acquisition of Paramount was approved by regulators this recent period, 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 complaints of partiality and promised to oversight bodies that coverage would reflect a diversity of view points.

He also said CBS's long-running political show "Face the Nation" would no longer air edited interviews.

Collaboration Information

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

In a message announcing the agreement, Ms Weiss said she trusted in the Paramount boss and his leadership team.

"They are committing fully because they have faith in news. Because they have courage. Because they love this country. And because they appreciate, as we do, that America cannot thrive without common facts, common truths, and a common reality," she commented.