Here comes Bari Weiss. What does it mean for CBS News?

Los Angeles Times ^ | Oct. 3, 2025 10:32 AM PT | Stephen Battaglio

[E. Pluribus Unum]

• Bari Weiss is set to become CBS News editor-in-chief as Paramount is expected to acquire her digital outlet the Free Press for $150 million.

• The appointment represents new owner David Ellison’s effort to shake up the traditional network after a recent Trump-related legal settlement.

• Some industry observers question whether the outsider can navigate CBS’s entrenched newsroom culture without alienating the network’s existing audience.

CBS News will learn a lot about its future next week when Bari Weiss, founder of the upstart news site the Free Press, is expected to enter the hallowed halls where Walter Cronkite and Mike Wallace once roamed.

Weiss, 41, is joining CBS News in a new role of editor in chief, according to people familiar with the discussions who were not authorized to comment publicly. The appointment could be announced as soon as Monday.

David Ellison, 42, chairman and chief executive of CBS-owner Paramount, approached Weiss months ago, part of his campaign to shake things up. She will report to Ellison and work alongside CBS News President Tom Cibrowski, who joined the network in February.

Under the deal, Paramount has agreed to buy Weiss’ four-year-old digital media business, which offers newsletters, reported pieces, podcasts, and what it calls “sense-making columns,” for around $150 million in cash and stock. For months, her anticipated arrival at CBS News, an aging pillar of the press establishment, has been a hot topic in the news business.

The rapid rise of Weiss — a former newspaper opinion page staff editor — to a major role in shaping the coverage of a TV news organization with no previous experience in the medium is an extraordinary move that is likely to be highly scrutinized.

Will she remold the news division — which has been beset by management turnover and sustained pressure from...

[1Old Pro]

According to The Washington Post, Weiss “portrays herself as a liberal uncomfortable with the excesses of left-wing culture” and has sought to “position herself as a reasonable liberal concerned that far-left critiques stifled free speech”.

[Freeleesy]

WOW. More conservative leaning voice. NYT couldn’t stand her right leaning views

[1Old Pro]

nothing will change, unless she gets serious and overhauls 60 minutes extreme left wing bias, fires gayle king, and hires a conservative anchor for the nightly news.

[ComputerGuy]

...the hallowed halls where Walter Cronkite and Mike Wallace once roamed...

gmafb

[ClearCase_guy]

She might start by re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic, but that sort of extreme right-wing behavior will only get her fired.

[chuck allen]

Barry Weiss was great on Storage Wars!

[adorno]

Weiss “portrays herself as a liberal uncomfortable with the excesses of left-wing culture” and has sought to “position herself as a reasonable liberal concerned that far-left critiques stifled free speech”.

She won't be lasting long in that CBS position. Democrats won't have anyone attacking their position on free speech.

[Major Matt Mason]

There won't be any real change since she is still a Leftist, just not as nutty.

[erlayman]

I don’t mind Bari but she has zero experience with or interest in straight news journalistic reporting so CBS won’t be worse but at least it should be fascinating.

[AZJeep]

She is NOT conservative.
Just moderate liberal.

[real saxophonist]

“Bari” is a nickname for the baritone saxophone, BTW.

[Albion Wilde]

Some industry observers question whether the outsider can navigate CBS’s entrenched newsroom culture without alienating the network’s existing audience.

“Oh, noooooo — we will lose liberals! Conservatives might fill the vacuum! Nooooooohwa!”