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The media conglomerate has selected former New York Times columnist Bari Weiss to lead CBS News, marking the most recent move by current leadership to reorganize workings of one of America's leading news outlets.

The company is furthermore buying The Free Press, the web-based platform Weiss established after her disputed separation from the New York Times, in a agreement said to be worth $150 million.

Ms Weiss, who has challenged network journalism for becoming excessively biased, said she was enthusiastic to put her stamp on CBS, which was acquired by David Ellison in recent months as part of a wider merger with Paramount.

History of the Executive

Ms Weiss, who started her career at Jewish publications, is noted for her backing of Israel and her skepticism of "woke culture".

Since its start as a email publication in 2021, The Free Press has attracted 1.5 million subscribers, including more than 170,000 subscribing supporters.

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

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

Strategic Plans

Mr Ellison said the appointment of Ms Weiss as top editorial position was part of a larger effort to refresh coverage at Paramount and make CBS the "most reliable name in news".

"We are convinced the greater part of the country desires news that is balanced and accurate, and we want CBS to be their source," he said.

Additional Shifts at CBS

Details of the agreement were not disclosed. Paramount refused to discuss stories that the company had paid $150 million in equity and currency.

Mr Ellison built his career as a Hollywood movie maker of blockbusters such as Top Gun Maverick, True Grit and World War Z.

He has said his objective is to produce coverage that is less politically skewed, and therefore has the potential to engage all audiences.

His purchase of Paramount was authorized by government authorities this recent period, after the company consented to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit.

To win approval of the transaction, Mr Ellison pledged to install an independent ombudsman at CBS to assess complaints of bias and vowed to regulators that programming would include a diversity of opinions.

He further said CBS's long-running political show "Face the Nation" would discontinue air modified discussions.

Alliance Facts

CBS News has a working relationship with a global news organization, meaning news content including video footage can be exchanged.

In a note announcing the deal, Ms Weiss said she believed in the Paramount executive and his executive staff.

"They are committing fully because they have faith in news. Because they have courage. Because they cherish this country. And because they appreciate, as we do, that America cannot prosper without common facts, universal realities, and a unified worldview," she stated.