Paramount is reportedly preparing to announce a deal that would bring Bari Weiss to CBS News, as stated by Puck News on Thursday.
Correspondent Dylan Byers mentioned on social media that an agreement to acquire Weiss Media Company is expected to be revealed by Paramount on Monday. If all goes as planned, Weiss will take on the role of “editor’s editor” at CBS News and will report directly to David Ellison, the new CEO of Paramount.
Byers added that Tom Chibrowski will continue as president of CBS News, suggesting he might be advocating for an “editor shift” in parts of the network’s programming.
CBS is denying claims that it lost $50 million annually.
Fox News Digital reached out to both Paramount and CBS News for comments. There have been ongoing rumors that Ellison is interested in the Free Press, a venture founded by Weiss after her exit from the New York Times in 2020. Last month, Byers reported that the two parties were nearing an agreement.
However, Puck News indicated that this move might provoke some backlash within the newsroom, though not all CBS News personnel seem particularly concerned.
CBS staff are protesting Paramount’s “shameful” reconciliation with Trump, viewing it as a “betrayal” of network journalists.
“Perhaps a more open-minded approach is on the horizon. There’s no fear here,” a CBS employee shared with Fox News Digital in September.
On the flip side, some left-leaning commentators have raised alarms, arguing that hiring a figure as polarizing as Weiss could further damage public trust in the media and represent a shift toward “right-wing viewpoints.”
Bari Weiss believes that if efforts to end DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives continue, they will undermine the agency’s central mission.
After facing pressure from colleagues across the political spectrum, Weiss, who identifies as a classic liberal, left the New York Times in 2020. She has recently been criticized by the cultural left for her views on various issues, including those surrounding the ongoing conflict involving Israel and Hamas.
In the meantime, analysts are split on Weiss’ potential impact at CBS News, with some arguing she could foster a more honest dialogue, while others express concern over the implications of her arrival.
