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Paramount has named former NYT columnist Bari Weiss to lead CBS News, marking the newest initiative by current leadership to reshape operations of a prominent American news outlets.

The company is also purchasing The Free Press, the web-based platform Weiss started after her contentious separation from the New York Times, in a agreement estimated to be worth $150 million.

Ms Weiss, who has criticised television news for becoming excessively biased, said she was enthusiastic to influence CBS, which was taken over by David Ellison earlier this year as part of a larger merger with Paramount.

History of the New Leader

Ms Weiss, who began her professional journey at Jewish media organizations, is known for her backing of Israel and her questioning of "cancel 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 coverage such as a article questioning of NPR by one of its ex- business editors, as well as an examination of some photos used by established media to depict famine in Gaza.

Notable authors include scholar Niall Ferguson and economic thinker Tyler Cowen.

Strategic Plans

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

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

Additional Shifts at CBS

Terms of the arrangement were not revealed. Paramount declined to comment reports that the firm had paid $150 million in shares and money.

Mr Ellison established his reputation as a Hollywood cinematic creator of major films such as Top Gun Maverick, True Grit and World War Z.

He has said his objective is to produce coverage that is less politically skewed, and therefore has the capacity to reach all viewers.

His acquisition of Paramount was approved by government authorities this season, after the company committed to pay $16 million to settle a court case.

To obtain consent of the deal, Mr Ellison committed to establish an external reviewer at CBS to examine concerns of prejudice and vowed to authorities that programming would reflect a range of view points.

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

Alliance Facts

CBS News has a collaborative arrangement with another major network, meaning news content including video footage can be shared.

In a note announcing the arrangement, Ms Weiss said she believed in the Paramount leader and his leadership team.

"They are making significant investments because they support news. Because they have bravery. Because they value this country. And because they appreciate, as we do, that America cannot succeed without mutual understanding, agreed principles, and a shared perspective," she stated.