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2h ago

Paramount Skydance Poised to Buy The Free Press, Install Bari Weiss as CBS News Editor in Chief

Reporting points to a $150 million purchase that would put Weiss under CEO David Ellison’s direct oversight.

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FILE – People walk by the CBS Broadcast Center on 57th Street in New York on April 20, 2023. CBS News has asked all of its local stations to become proficient in “solutions journalism,” a story-telling method that has taken off in the past decade to counter people who think reporters are obsessed with bad news. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)
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Overview

  • Multiple outlets report the company plans to acquire Bari Weiss’s The Free Press and name her CBS News’ inaugural editor in chief, with an announcement expected Monday, though timing remains fluid.
  • Paramount and CBS representatives have not confirmed the reports or provided comment in response to inquiries.
  • Sources say the price is about $150 million in cash and stock with earn‑outs, and The Free Press would continue operating as a standalone property owned by Paramount.
  • Weiss would reportedly bypass the traditional chain of command to report directly to David Ellison, while Tom Cibrowski is expected to remain president of CBS News.
  • The plan has drawn immediate pushback from journalists and some CBS staffers, coming after the Skydance–Paramount merger, a $16 million 60 Minutes settlement, and the FCC‑mandated appointment of ombudsman Kenneth R. Weinstein.