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The media conglomerate has selected former New York Times commentator Bari Weiss to oversee CBS News, signaling the newest move by current leadership to reshape activities of one of America's leading news outlets.

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

Ms Weiss, who has challenged broadcast media for becoming overly political, said she was enthusiastic to shape CBS, which was acquired by David Ellison earlier this year as part of a larger merger with Paramount.

History of the Appointee

Ms Weiss, who commenced her work at Jewish news outlets, is known for her backing of Israel and her criticism of "cancel culture".

Since its start as a email publication in 2021, The Free Press has attracted 1.5 million subscribers, including in excess of 170,000 paying members.

It has garnered notice for reports such as a piece questioning of NPR by one of its ex- business editors, as well as an examination of some photographs used by mainstream news outlets to illustrate famine in Gaza.

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

Vision for CBS

Mr Ellison said the selection of Ms Weiss as chief editor was part of a broader effort to update content at Paramount and make CBS the "most reliable name in news".

"We are convinced the majority of the country desires news that is fair and accurate, and we want CBS to be their home," he said.

Further Developments at CBS

Details of the agreement were not revealed. Paramount refused to discuss accounts that the corporation had paid $150 million in shares and money.

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

He has said his goal is to produce journalism that is more balanced politically, and therefore has the ability to reach all demographics.

His takeover of Paramount was approved by government authorities this recent period, after the company agreed to pay $16 million to conclude a legal action.

To win approval of the acquisition, Mr Ellison committed to establish an impartial arbitrator at CBS to examine complaints of partiality and vowed to oversight bodies that content would include a diversity of view points.

He further said CBS's veteran political show "Face the Nation" would no longer air modified discussions.

Partnership Details

CBS News has a working relationship with another major network, meaning news content including visual material can be distributed.

In a statement announcing the deal, Ms Weiss said she believed in the Paramount executive and his leadership team.

"They are doubling down because they support news. Because they have courage. Because they value this country. And because they recognize, as we do, that America cannot thrive without shared information, universal realities, and a shared perspective," she wrote.