Paramount Plans Free Press Acquisition, Bari Weiss Senior CBS Role

Paramount is in advanced talks to acquire The Free Press, a right-leaning news outlet founded by Bari Weiss in 2022, with the deal valued between $100 million and $200 million. As part of the acquisition, Weiss is expected to assume a senior editorial role at CBS News, potentially leading the division, which has caused unease within the newsroom given her conservative critique of mainstream media and background in opinion journalism rather than newsgathering. The acquisition follows Paramount's recent $8 billion merger with Skydance Media, placing CBS News under David Ellison's leadership, who has pushed for changes including creating an ombudsman and expanding viewpoint diversity, measures that have stirred tensions among CBS staff. Weiss, who left The New York Times citing an illiberal environment, has built The Free Press into a popular alternative to left-leaning media, but her rise at CBS is expected to prompt staff resignations and concerns about the network's direction. The move aligns with Ellison's vision for a more conservative approach at CBS News, signaling a significant shift in the media landscape amid ongoing political and corporate pressures. Paramount and Weiss have declined to comment on the negotiations, which appear to be nearing finalization.