Paramount’s decision to name Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief of CBS News, following its $150 million acquisition of her digital media startup The Free Press, signals a clear editorial and strategic shift. It’s a high-profile bet on a polarizing figure known for ideological independence and entrepreneurial media instincts at a time when legacy broadcast brands are struggling to regain relevance.
This move comes just months after David Ellison took over Paramount in the wake of its merger with Skydance. Under his leadership, CBS News is being reimagined as a more “balanced, fact-based” operation, leaning on figures outside traditional TV news to lead the way. Weiss, despite having no background in broadcast journalism, is now in charge of shaping CBS News’ editorial voice.
A Digital Brand Meets a Legacy Giant
The Free Press, Weiss’s Substack-native publication, will remain operationally independent inside Paramount. It will continue producing newsletters, podcasts, and original reporting for its 1.5 million readers and 170,000 paying subscribers. Weiss will retain her role as editor-in-chief and CEO of The Free Press in addition to her new position at CBS News.
This dual role is unprecedented inside a major network newsroom and gives Weiss significant influence over Paramount’s news strategy. Ellison is positioning The Free Press as a model for CBS News’ future, citing its rapid growth, trust-driven reporting, and editorial independence. In his internal memo, Ellison praised Weiss as a “proven champion of independent, principled journalism” who will “invigorate” CBS News.
Strategic Gamble Amid Institutional Turmoil
CBS News has cycled through five presidents in five years and has dealt with internal controversies, including leadership exits tied to 60 Minutes and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Weiss inherits a newsroom fatigued by change and wary of new ideological directions. Her leadership will be tested not only on content but also on newsroom management and cultural cohesion.
Tom Cibrowski, a respected newsroom veteran, will remain president of CBS News. Both he and Weiss will report directly to Ellison. While critics question the optics of installing a non-TV outsider amid upcoming layoffs, others like Catherine Herridge view Weiss as a disruptor with the CEO’s full backing, which could prove decisive.
Part of a Larger Transformation at Paramount
The Free Press deal is not happening in a vacuum. Ellison has also appointed Kenneth R. Weinstein, a former Hudson Institute chief and Trump campaign donor, as CBS News’ ombudsman. The move was widely seen as politically strategic, helping grease regulatory wheels for the Paramount-Skydance merger under a Trump-aligned FCC chair.
Weiss’s brand of heterodox, anti-groupthink journalism dovetails with Ellison’s view that the majority of Americans are “center-left or center-right” and underserved by existing media outlets. Weiss echoed this sentiment in her first note to CBS staff, committing to core journalistic values like clarity, non-ideological reporting, and open debate.
Still, many inside CBS News are sceptical. Some view her appointment as another indication that corporate and political interests are eroding editorial independence. Others worry the network’s third-place ratings cannot be fixed by bold hires alone.
The Streaming Wars Take
This deal represents the convergence of legacy broadcast and digital-native media strategies. Paramount is betting that trust and voice-driven journalism, not just volume or reach, will define the next era of news.
This move also puts pressure on other traditional news brands to evolve or partner with emerging editorial voices that command real audience loyalty. Executives should pay attention to how Paramount integrates a Substack-based media brand into a broadcast ecosystem, how it handles internal culture clashes, and whether this strategy delivers measurable trust and engagement.
If successful, this could become a playbook for legacy media seeking relevance without sacrificing profitability or audience trust.
