Bari Weiss, the former New York Times journalist who left the paper in 2020 citing a left-leaning editorial policy, is set to become editor-in-chief of CBS News following the merger of Paramount and Skydance. The appointment, expected to be announced as early as Monday, comes as part of a $150 million deal for Paramount to acquire Weiss’s media outlet, The Free Press.
Weiss, 41, will report directly to Skydance founder David Ellison, who reportedly sought to acquire her and The Free Press. The $8 billion merger, approved by the Trump administration, combines Paramount's television networks, including CBS and MTV, with Ellison’s production company. Weiss’s role will involve setting the editorial direction at CBS News, a move that has already sparked controversy.
Critics have described Weiss as a polarising figure, with some CBS veterans comparing her appointment to “dropping a grenade” in the newsroom. A profile in The Guardian noted that Weiss has been a key figure in cancelling anti-Zionists and ‘woke’ progressives while championing free speech. Oliver Darcy of the Status newsletter warned that her “stridently pro-Israel, proudly anti-‘woke’” stance could erode trust in CBS News.
However, not all reactions have been negative. One CBS staffer told Fox News that the change might bring “more free thought, free expression”. The Free Press, which Weiss founded with her wife and sister, will remain a standalone operation separate from CBS News. Weiss’s appointment also casts doubt on the possible return of former CBS President David Rhodes.
