Overview

• Paramount said it acquired Bari Weiss’s outlet the Free Press and named her editor-in-chief of CBS News, with the Free Press continuing to operate separately.
• Multiple outlets report a purchase price near $150 million, and Weiss will report directly to Paramount CEO David Ellison.
• Weiss is primarily an opinion journalist known for anti‑woke commentary and a strong pro‑Israel stance, prompting scrutiny of her fit to run a broadcast newsroom.
• CBS staffers voiced unease after her first call—where she said, “Let’s do the f***ing news”—with reports of eye‑rolls and descriptions of the mood as “utterly depressing.”
• Supporters argue she could broaden the audience, while critics warn coverage could tilt right; Weiss says her goal is to make the organization the most trusted in news.