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Paramount has appointed former New York Times commentator Bari Weiss to lead CBS News, representing the most recent move by new owners to reorganize operations of one of America's leading news organisations.

Paramount is furthermore acquiring The Free Press, the online publication Weiss established after her acrimonious departure from the New York Times, in a arrangement estimated to be worth $150 million.

Ms Weiss, who has questioned network journalism for becoming excessively biased, said she was eager to put her stamp on CBS, which was purchased by David Ellison recently as part of a broader merger with Paramount.

History of the New Leader

Ms Weiss, who commenced her work at Jewish publications, is recognized for her advocacy of Israel and her questioning of "woke culture".

Beginning as a newsletter in 2021, The Free Press has gained 1.5 million subscribers, including over 170,000 paid subscribers.

It has drawn attention for articles such as a feature questioning of NPR by one of its former business editors, as well as an investigation of some photos used by traditional journalism to depict famine in Gaza.

Big name contributors include historian Niall Ferguson and financial expert Tyler Cowen.

Vision for CBS

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

"We think the bulk of the country longs for news that is even-handed and truthful, and we want CBS to be their destination," he said.

Further Developments at CBS

Specifics of the arrangement were not made public. Paramount declined to comment stories that the corporation had paid $150 million in shares and money.

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

He has said his goal is to produce coverage that is less partisan, and therefore has the capacity to reach all audiences.

His purchase of Paramount was approved by oversight bodies this season, after the company committed to pay $16 million to resolve a lawsuit.

To win approval of the deal, Mr Ellison pledged to establish an independent ombudsman at CBS to examine complaints of bias and committed to oversight bodies that coverage would showcase a range of view points.

He further said CBS's long-running political show "Face the Nation" would cease to air edited interviews.

Partnership Details

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 arrangement, Ms Weiss said she trusted in the Paramount executive and his executive staff.

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