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Paramount has named former New York Times opinion writer Bari Weiss to lead CBS News, representing the latest move by new owners to reshape activities of a major US news networks.

Paramount is furthermore purchasing The Free Press, the web-based platform Weiss founded after her contentious exit from the New York Times, in a deal estimated to be worth $150 million.

Ms Weiss, who has challenged television news for becoming excessively biased, said she was excited to influence CBS, which was purchased by David Ellison in recent months as part of a wider merger with Paramount.

Background of the Appointee

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

Since its start as a digital bulletin in 2021, The Free Press has accumulated 1.5 million followers, including over 170,000 paying members.

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

Prominent contributors include historian Niall Ferguson and economic thinker Tyler Cowen.

Future Direction

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

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

Additional Shifts at CBS

Terms of the deal were not made public. Paramount would not address stories that the firm had paid $150 million in equity and currency.

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 coverage that is more balanced politically, and therefore has the capacity to engage all demographics.

His purchase of Paramount was authorized by government authorities this season, after the company consented to pay $16 million to conclude a court case.

To secure clearance of the transaction, Mr Ellison committed to establish an independent ombudsman at CBS to examine concerns of prejudice and vowed to oversight bodies that content would reflect a variety of perspectives.

He further said CBS's long-running political show "Face the Nation" would discontinue air altered conversations.

Alliance Facts

CBS News has a working relationship with a global news organization, meaning news material including visual material can be shared.

In a statement declaring the arrangement, Ms Weiss said she had faith in the Paramount executive and his executive staff.

"They are making significant investments because they support news. Because they have bravery. Because they cherish this country. And because they appreciate, as we do, that America cannot succeed without common facts, universal realities, and a common reality," she commented.