<\/p>\n
Bari Weiss, founder of The Free Press, has been appointed editor-in-chief of CBS News following Paramount Skydance\u2019s $150 million acquisition of her digital media platform. Weiss, 41, will report directly to David Ellison, CEO of Paramount Skydance. The newly created role marks a major shift in the network\u2019s leadership and editorial direction.<\/p>\n
The move brings one of the most outspoken voices in independent media into the heart of a legacy broadcast brand. CBS, long seen as part of the mainstream media establishment, now faces the prospect of a newsroom led by a figure who built her reputation questioning that very establishment.<\/p>\n
Weiss\u2019s career spans roles at The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, where she resigned in 2020, citing \u201cbullying by colleagues\u201d and a newsroom culture hostile to \u201cintellectual curiosity.\u201d She later founded The Free Press in 2022, attracting 1.5 million subscribers with journalism that mixed opinion, reportage and open debate.<\/p>\n
Her appointment comes as CBS News transitions under new ownership. David Ellison\u2019s father, Larry Ellison, the Oracle co-founder and a prominent Trump ally, is a major stakeholder in Paramount Skydance. That connection has fuelled speculation about how the network\u2019s editorial stance may evolve.<\/p>\n
Critics have questioned Weiss\u2019s suitability for the job. Jamelle Bouie of The New York Times called her \u201can unethical and talentless hack,\u201d while others argued she lacks the traditional reporting background expected of a newsroom leader. <\/p>\n
Supporters counter that previous CBS executives, including former president Sean McManus, also came from non-reporting roles \u2014 and that Weiss\u2019s entrepreneurial record speaks for itself.<\/p>\n
Weiss has described her approach as \u201cjournalism based in curiosity and honesty\u201d and has said she intends to rebuild CBS News into \u201ca trusted institution.\u201d Trust remains an uphill battle: a recent Pew Research Center survey found that 39% of Americans trust CBS News, while 23% express distrust.<\/p>\n
In a memo to staff, Weiss outlined ten principles for non-partisanship and editorial independence. Her call for \u201cclinical neutrality\u201d has reportedly caused unease among some employees concerned about ideological shifts inside the newsroom.<\/p>\n
Beyond her publishing ventures, Weiss hosts the podcast Honestly, where she interviews guests across the political spectrum, from mainstream thinkers to controversial figures such as Woody Allen. Her willingness to tackle fraught topics has drawn both praise and criticism but underscores her commitment to open inquiry.<\/p>\n