On Monday, Paramount announced its acquisition of The Free Press, a provocative news outlet renowned for its critical stance on mainstream media and left-leaning woke culture. The move also sees the publication's co-founder, Bari Weiss, appointed as the new editor-in-chief of CBS News. In her letter to readers, Weiss expressed her excitement, stating, “As of today, I am editor-in-chief of CBS News, working with new colleagues on the programs that have impacted American culture for generations — shows like 60 Minutes and Sunday Morning.” She emphasized her commitment to shaping how millions of Americans consume news in the 21st century.
The appointment marks a significant milestone in the career of Weiss, a 41-year-old journalist and entrepreneur. Before co-founding The Free Press, she held roles as an op-ed editor at both the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. Weiss famously departed from the Times in 2020, following backlash over the publication of a controversial op-ed by Senator Tom Cotton. In her resignation letter, she accused her colleagues of harassment and claimed that the Times had become overly influenced by its left-leaning critics online.
In the wake of her departure, Weiss, along with her sister Suzy Weiss and spouse Nellie Bowles, launched The Free Press, which initially began as a newsletter titled Common Sense. They aimed to create a new media platform founded on the principles that once characterized great American journalism: honesty, doggedness, and independence. The Free Press expanded into a full-fledged media entity by 2022, offering podcasts and live events while investigating critical political and cultural issues.
The Free Press has gained substantial traction, boasting a subscriber base of 1.5 million, reflecting an impressive 86% growth over the past year. This growth has garnered the support of notable figures, including venture capitalist Marc Andreessen and former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz. Weiss articulated her ambition to reach an even broader audience, stating, “As proud as we are of the 1.5 million subscribers who have joined under the banner of The Free Press, this is a country with 340 million people. We want our work to reach more of them, as quickly as possible.”
Despite the acquisition, The Free Press will maintain its brand and operations independently. While Weiss may not manage CBS News’s daily operations, her influence will be significant in shaping the network’s editorial direction, particularly in expanding its appeal to right-leaning viewers.
During a time when CBS News is seeking to diversify its political perspectives, Skydance Media CEO David Ellison expressed confidence in Weiss's capabilities, stating, “Bari is a proven champion of independent, principled journalism.” He noted that her entrepreneurial spirit and editorial vision would invigorate CBS News as part of Paramount's broader initiative to modernize its content and audience connections.
Bari Weiss was raised in a Jewish family in Pittsburgh and had her Bat Mitzvah at the Tree of Life Synagogue, site of a tragic mass shooting in 2018. Weiss attended Columbia University, where she became involved in activism regarding perceived anti-Israel sentiment within its Mideast studies department. Her experiences there shaped her journalism career, as she later became the founding editor of a campus magazine that focused on politics, culture, and Jewish affairs.
Post-college, Weiss worked at Tablet, an online Jewish life magazine, before joining the Wall Street Journal as an op-ed and book review editor in 2013. Her departure from the Journal was partly due to the organization's aversion to anti-Trump political commentary. Weiss gained further prominence at the New York Times but faced backlash for several controversial columns, culminating in her resignation in 2020.
At The Free Press, Weiss has positioned the publication as an anti-woke platform that challenges mainstream institutions. Yet, her political stance remains complex; she describes herself as a radical centrist and has voted for candidates across the political spectrum. In her work, she advocates for a balanced discourse, critiquing both extremes of the political landscape while promoting values such as truth and honesty in journalism.
In her recent announcement, Weiss addresses the skepticism surrounding her return to a legacy media institution. She explains that the media landscape has evolved significantly since her time at the Times, positing that today’s essential conversations are often happening outside traditional outlets. Weiss envisions leveraging the values of The Free Press to reach a wider audience, emphasizing journalism grounded in curiosity and a culture of healthy disagreement.
As Bari Weiss steps into her role as editor-in-chief of CBS News, her background, experience, and vision for journalism will undoubtedly influence the network's direction. With a commitment to embracing diverse viewpoints and fostering thoughtful discourse, Weiss aims to reshape how CBS News connects with its audience, steering the organization into a new era of journalism.
