Bari Weiss’ hiring follows recent controversies at CBS, including executive resignations and political scrutiny from President Donald Trump
A major leadership shift could occur at CBS News, as its parent company, Paramount, plans to appoint former New York Times journalist Bari Weiss as its editor-in-chief.
Paramount is also reportedly preparing to acquire Weiss’s media outlet, The Free Press, reportedly worth around $150 million. She is likely to report directly to Paramount CEO David Ellison, reshaping the network’s leadership structure.
Her arrival reflects Ellison’s interest in Weiss’s digital-first journalism approach.
However, with a lack of broadcast news experience and unclear duties, her role has created uncertainty among CBS staff, according to NPR. She may work alongside current CBS News president Tom Cibrowski.
Weiss’ hiring follows recent controversies at CBS, including executive resignations and political scrutiny from President Donald Trump. It recently settled with President Trump for $16 million over allegations that it favorably edited a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris during the 2024 election campaign.
Soon after the settlement, the Trump administration approved the $8 billion merger between Paramount and Skydance.
Skydance’s David and his father, Larry Ellison, are known for their conservative leanings. The company has pledged to “root out the bias” and promote ideological diversity in CBS programming.