Paramount Plans $150M Free Press Acquisition, Names Bari Weiss CBS News Editor-in-Chief

Paramount, under CEO David Ellison, is acquiring Bari Weiss's media startup The Free Press for approximately $150 million and appointing Weiss as the new Editor-in-Chief of CBS News. This strategic move aims to revitalize CBS News by leveraging Weiss's ability to connect across political divides and her established brand, which has become influential for its contrarian and center-right perspectives. Weiss will report directly to Ellison, operating alongside CBS News President Tom Cibrowski, and The Free Press will continue as a standalone entity. The acquisition reflects Paramount’s broader efforts to modernize their media holdings amid challenges from digital platforms and shifting audience preferences. While some CBS staffers express cautious optimism about potential editorial openness, the decision has sparked criticism from left-wing commentators who view Weiss as a polarizing figure likely to deepen ideological divides in media. This deal is seen as part of a larger trend of media companies courting right-leaning voices to appeal to a politically diverse audience, especially in the context of President Trump’s renewed influence and contentious relationship with CBS News.