Independent journalist Bari Weiss is reportedly in talks to take a senior editorial role at CBS News as new Paramount CEO David Ellison moves forward with a deal to acquire her outlet, The Free Press.
Ellison, who took over Paramount last month following an $8 billion merger with Skydance, is said to be “at the one-yard line” in negotiations. The acquisition could cost between $100 million and $200 million.
Weiss’ Rise
Weiss, a former New York Times editor, left the paper in 2020 after publicly criticizing its workplace culture.
She has since built The Free Press into an influential publication known for challenging progressive orthodoxy on issues like diversity programs, gender ideology, and Israel.
Her reporting has earned praise from conservatives while drawing hostility from left-leaning media outlets.
Media Backlash
HuffPost called Weiss “polarizing,” while Salon labeled The Free Press a “conservative outlet.”
The Nation went further, branding her a “vile grifter” in an editorial that warned of CBS News being “handed over to one of the leading hateful propagandists of our time.”
CNN’s Oliver Darcy argued that Ellison