Paramount officially announced Monday it has purchased the digital commentary website The Free Press and installed its founder, Bari Weiss, as the new Editor-in-Chief of CBS News.
The news confirms earlier reports that had already ignited a firestorm of protest from left-wing journalists and public figures. Paramount CEO David Ellison characterized the bold move as part of a larger strategy to modernize content and connect “directly and passionately” with audiences.
Ellison Defends Move, Promises “Balance and Fact-Based” News
Ellison lauded Weiss’s background in print commentary and her entrepreneurial success with The Free Press—the site she founded after resigning from The New York Times in 2020 over an “illiberal environment.”
READ: Trump Extends Ultimatum As Hamas Talks Show ‘Very Positive’ Progress
“I am confident her entrepreneurial drive and editorial vision will invigorate CBS News,” Ellison said in a news release. He added that the move would help the network serve the majority of the country that “longs for news that is balance and fact-based, and we want CBS to be their home.”
Weiss will report directly to Ellison and work alongside CBS News President Tom Cibrowski. She is tasked with shaping editorial priorities, championing core values, and leading innovation across the news division.
Despite Ellison’s assurances of balance, the move has fueled concern among some at CBS News that the division is shifting toward a direction more friendly to President Donald Trump, given Weiss’s politically centrist and sometimes contrarian views. The purchase price for The Free Press was not disclosed.
Liberal Figures Erupt: Accusations of Bias and “Catastrophic” Damage
The official announcement intensified the fierce backlash that began over the weekend, centering on Weiss’s political stances—particularly her strong pro-Israel views and her refusal to align with far-left ideologies.
Cenk Uygur, founder of The Young Turks, maintained that Weiss’s pro-Israel stance was the very reason for her hiring and would make CBS News “useless.” MSNBC host Chris Hayes offered a pointed comparison, likening Weiss to Republican politician J.D. Vance, implying a right-wing alignment.
Political consultant Chris Sosa labeled Weiss a “right-wing actor” and warned the move was “catastrophic.” “Right-wing actor Bari Weiss has no business leading any news organization, especially one that strives for objectivity,” Sosa wrote on social media.
The New York Times‘ Ida Bae Wells questioned Weiss’s professional background, invoking the debate around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). “Zero news experience. Never been a reporter. Elevated to Editor in Chief of CBS News, one of the most storied news institutions in the nation,” Wells wrote.
Transgender activist Alejandra Caraballo was equally critical, accusing Weiss of appealing to the “existing prejudices” of “billionaire oligarchs” who are propping up her career. The Nation columnist John Ganz dismissed her as a “mediocre vulgarian” who has “damaged” American institutions.
The confirmed appointment ensures Weiss will begin her tenure at one of the nation’s most venerable news organizations under a cloud of significant external controversy and intense scrutiny of the network’s future editorial direction.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox
