Bari Weiss Expected to Lead CBS News Amid Major Changes
Paramount Skydance is gearing up to appoint Bari Weiss as the editor of CBS News in the coming days. This move comes as part of an initiative to revitalize a network that’s been facing challenges, especially in acquiring her controversial news outlet, The Free Press.
Weiss, 41 and a former opinion writer for The New York Times, has transformed The Free Press into a notable platform, albeit one that some critics view as lacking polish. An official announcement regarding her new role is anticipated on Monday, though sources indicate that plans may evolve.
In a significant shift, Weiss will report directly to David Ellison, CEO of Paramount Skydance, bypassing the typical chain of command that includes CBS News president Tom Cibrowski, who, in turn, reports to George Cheeks, chairman of CBS’s media division. The exact dynamics between Weiss and Cibrowski remain unclear.
There’s speculation that Weiss’s hiring could complicate any potential return for former CBS president David Rhodes to the network.
Insiders suggest that Weiss might serve as a strong counterpart to Cibrowski, who is seen more as a production expert rather than a journalist. Many view her as an influential figure against anti-Semitism and as a representative of a more assertive media elite.
“Bari is quite ambitious, so Tom should be cautious,” remarked a source familiar with the situation.
As it stands, Paramount Skydance is likely set to acquire The Free Press in a deal worth approximately $150 million, which is expected to include a mix of cash and stock, along with clauses for further valuation.
A spokesperson for Paramount Skydance has yet to respond to requests for comments on these developments.
The prospect of Weiss’s new leadership has already sparked some discontent within the news department, particularly with ongoing accusations of a left-leaning bias in their reporting.
Weiss and Ellison’s professional relationship has been in the works for about a year. Their connection gained attention when they were both spotted at a high-profile event in July.
As reported earlier, Ellison is looking to usher in significant changes aimed at providing a more conservative slant in CBS News, especially in programs like “60 Minutes.” Notably, Kenneth R. Weinstein has been appointed as the CBS News Ombudsman in this post-merger shake-up.
Prior to the merger being approved by the FCC, Paramount reached a settlement of $16 million over a lawsuit from Donald Trump, concerning claims of biased editing in a “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris. While the network denied any wrongdoing, they managed to resolve the issue under Ellison’s guidance.
Beyond the Harris case, CBS has faced scrutiny regarding its coverage of Israeli issues.
Last October, Tony Dokoupil drew attention during an interview with author Ta-Nehisi Coates, who characterized Israel using terms like “apartheid” and “nationalism.” Dokoupil, a Jewish father of two with ties to Israel, criticized Coates for lacking necessary historical context.
This prompted a response from Adrian Roark, then president of the news division, who addressed concerns at a conference shortly after, emphasizing that the segment did not meet CBS guidelines.
Not long after, “60 Minutes” aired a polarizing segment featuring officials from the State Department, which faced backlash from the American Jewish Committee for being “shockingly inaccurate” regarding Israel’s military operations against Hamas in Gaza.
