Overview

• Paramount said Weiss will serve as director general of CBS News after acquiring The Free Press, the digital outlet she founded.
• The purchase price is about $150 million in cash and Paramount stock, according to people familiar with the terms.
• Weiss will report directly to Ellison and work with CBS News president Tom Cibrowski, who reports to Paramount executive George Cheeks.
• The Free Press, launched in 2021 after Weiss left The New York Times, has roughly 1.5 million subscribers with more than 175,000 paying.
• Some CBS journalists voiced concern about a potential rightward shift, and reporting indicates CBS is considering a debate program overseen by Weiss as she may continue running The Free Press.