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Paramount has selected former New York Times commentator Bari Weiss to lead CBS News, marking the newest move by new owners to reshape activities of one of America's leading news networks.

The company is furthermore purchasing The Free Press, the online publication Weiss founded after her contentious departure 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 eager to shape CBS, which was purchased by David Ellison recently as part of a wider 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 questioning of "cancel culture".

From its inception as a email publication in 2021, The Free Press has gained 1.5 million readers, including more than 170,000 paying members.

It has garnered notice for articles such as a article questioning of NPR by one of its previous business editors, as well as an analysis of some photos used by mainstream news outlets to depict famine in Gaza.

Notable writers include historian Niall Ferguson and financial expert Tyler Cowen.

Vision for CBS

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

"We think the bulk of the country desires news that is balanced and accurate, and we want CBS to be their destination," he said.

Additional Shifts at CBS

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Paramount refused to discuss stories that the company had paid $150 million in shares and money.

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

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

His acquisition of Paramount was cleared by government authorities this recent period, after the company committed to pay $16 million to settle a legal action.

To win approval of the acquisition, Mr Ellison pledged to install an independent ombudsman at CBS to review complaints of partiality and vowed to authorities that programming would include a range of view points.

He additionally said CBS's established political show "Face the Nation" would discontinue air altered conversations.

Collaboration Information

CBS News has a partnership agreement with a global news organization, meaning news reporting including visual material can be exchanged.

In a statement revealing the agreement, Ms Weiss said she trusted in the Paramount executive and his leadership team.

"They are making significant investments because they believe in news. Because they have conviction. Because they love this country. And because they recognize, as we do, that America cannot succeed without shared information, universal realities, and a common reality," she stated.