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Paramount has selected former New York Times opinion writer Bari Weiss to oversee CBS News, signaling the latest step by recent acquirers to restructure activities of a prominent American news organisations.

The company is additionally acquiring The Free Press, the web-based platform Weiss started after her disputed separation from the New York Times, in a arrangement estimated to be worth $150 million.

Ms Weiss, who has challenged television news for becoming too partisan, said she was excited to shape CBS, which was acquired by David Ellison in recent months as part of a larger merger with Paramount.

History of the Executive

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

Beginning as a digital bulletin in 2021, The Free Press has accumulated 1.5 million subscribers, including more than 170,000 paid subscribers.

It has received recognition for reports such as a piece questioning of NPR by one of its previous business editors, as well as an investigation of some photographs used by traditional journalism to showcase famine in Gaza.

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

Strategic Plans

Mr Ellison said the appointment of Ms Weiss as chief editor was part of a larger initiative to modernize programming at Paramount and make CBS the "most credible name in news".

"We believe the greater part of the country longs for news that is fair and truthful, and we want CBS to be their home," he said.

Additional Shifts at CBS

Details of the deal were not disclosed. Paramount would not address stories that the corporation 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 coverage that is less politically skewed, and therefore has the capacity to reach all demographics.

His acquisition of Paramount was approved by regulators this summer, after the company committed to pay $16 million to resolve a court case.

To secure clearance of the acquisition, Mr Ellison committed to create an independent ombudsman at CBS to review complaints of bias and promised to regulators that content would include a range of perspectives.

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

Collaboration Information

CBS News has a working relationship with a global news organization, meaning news reporting including recorded segments can be shared.

In a statement declaring the deal, Ms Weiss said she believed in the Paramount executive and his executive staff.

"They are doubling down because they have faith in news. Because they have courage. Because they cherish this country. And because they appreciate, as we do, that America cannot thrive without common facts, common truths, and a unified worldview," she wrote.