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Paramount has named ex- NYT columnist Bari Weiss to lead CBS News, marking the newest initiative by current leadership to reshape operations of a prominent American news organisations.

The company is also buying The Free Press, the digital outlet Weiss founded after her contentious separation from the New York Times, in a deal said to be worth $150 million.

Ms Weiss, who has challenged network journalism for becoming overly political, said she was eager to influence CBS, which was acquired by David Ellison in recent months as part of a larger merger with Paramount.

Profile of the Executive

Ms Weiss, who started her career at Jewish news outlets, is noted for her backing of Israel and her questioning of "woke culture".

Beginning as a newsletter in 2021, The Free Press has attracted 1.5 million followers, including over 170,000 subscribing supporters.

It has received recognition for coverage such as a article questioning of NPR by one of its former business editors, as well as an investigation of some photos used by established media to depict famine in Gaza.

Prominent authors include academic Niall Ferguson and financial expert Tyler Cowen.

Vision for CBS

Mr Ellison said the selection of Ms Weiss as top editorial position was part of a bigger initiative to modernize content at Paramount and make CBS the "most reliable name in news".

"We are convinced the bulk of the country desires news that is balanced and fact-based, and we want CBS to be their source," he said.

Additional Shifts at CBS

Details of the arrangement were not disclosed. Paramount would not address accounts that the corporation had paid $150 million in stock and cash.

Mr Ellison made his name as a Hollywood movie maker of hit movies such as Top Gun Maverick, True Grit and World War Z.

He has said his goal is to produce coverage that is more balanced politically, and therefore has the potential to connect with all viewers.

His acquisition of Paramount was approved by oversight bodies this summer, after the company committed to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit.

To secure clearance of the acquisition, Mr Ellison agreed to install an independent ombudsman at CBS to assess concerns of partiality and vowed to oversight bodies that coverage would reflect a variety of perspectives.

He also said CBS's long-running political show "Face the Nation" would discontinue air altered conversations.

Partnership Details

CBS News has a collaborative arrangement with an international broadcaster, meaning news content including recorded segments can be shared.

In a statement announcing the deal, Ms Weiss said she believed in the Paramount leader and his leadership team.

"They are doubling down because they believe in news. Because they have courage. Because they love this country. And because they understand, as we do, that America cannot succeed without shared information, common truths, and a common reality," she wrote.