CBS News studio at Times Square in Manhattan, New York, United States of America, on July 6th, 2024.
Beata Zawrzel | Nurphoto | Getty Images
Paramount Skydance said Monday it has agreed to acquire online publication The Free Press, naming its co-founder and CEO, Bari Weiss, as CBS News’ editor-in-chief.
The digital upstart publication, which was launched by Weiss in 2021, will be joined with CBS News. Paramount said Monday The Free Press has 1.5 million subscribers, more than 170,000 of which are paid subscriptions.
Weiss founded The Free Press after resigning from The New York Times’ opinion desk in 2020.
“Weiss will shape editorial priorities, champion core values across platforms, and lead innovation in how the organization reports and delivers the news,” Paramount said in a news release.
The acquisition, which Paramount Skydance reportedly paid $150 million for, is the latest in a string of strategic moves by CEO David Ellison since the merger of Paramount and Skydance was completed in August.
It also comes as Paramount and CBS find their way out of a political line of fire, following a $16 million settlement with President Donald Trump over a “60 Minutes” interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris.
In light of the lawsuit, Paramount agreed to hire an ombudsman for CBS News with the goal of examining its work and investigating political bias complaints. And shortly after the settlement, the long-awaited merger between Paramount and Skydance won necessary federal approval.
In a memo to staff on Monday, Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison addressed the political environment in the U.S. — and how it’s weighed on the media.
“I think we can all agree that the temperature of our nation’s social discourse feels higher than ever. Too often, the space once reserved for thoughtful dialogue has been consumed by partisan division and hostile disputes,” Ellison said in the memo. “If we are to move forward, we must find our way back to the ideals that shaped both our country and civilization itself: open exchange of ideas, vigorous yet respectful debate, and a genuine regard for the beliefs and traditions of others.”
“This challenge extends to the media. While it was founded with the mission of informing the public and fostering discussion on the issues of the day, too often it has become a platform that amplifies the very partisanship tearing our society apart,” Ellison said in the memo.
Weiss, who will report to Ellison, also sent a note to CBS News staffers on Monday.
“My goal in the coming days and weeks is to get to know you. I want to hear from you about what’s working, what isn’t, and your thoughts on how we can make CBS News the most trusted news organization in America and the world,” Weiss said in her memo. “I’ll approach it the way any reporter would—with an open mind, a fresh notebook, and an urgent deadline.”
Paramount playbook
US producer David Ellison attends Apple’s “Fountain of Youth” premiere at the American Museum of Natural History in New York on May 19, 2025.
Charly Triballeau | Afp | Getty Images
Soon after Paramount Skydance closed their tie-up and Ellison took the helm, the company announced a seven year, $7.7 billion media rights deal to become the exclusive home in the U.S. for TKO Group’s UFC mixed martial arts organization beginning in 2026.
More recently, the company announced a long term media rights deal beginning in 2026 with Zuffa Boxing, the new promotion formed by TKO and Saudi Arabia entertainment conglomerate Sela.
Bulking up Paramount’s content slate has also been a key to the company’s recent moves.
Ellison signed a deal that secured the rights to develop, produce and distribute a live-action feature film based on Activision’s Call of Duty video game franchise. He also entered into a three-year distribution deal with Legendary. And, the company is bringing on the creative team of Matt and Ross Duffer, better known as the Duffer Brothers — creators of the Netflix hit “Stranger Things.”
Paramount is also working with an investment bank and exploring a bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, CNBC previously reported.
In addition, Ellison also been making some noteworthy hires to his staff since the merger closed.
In late September Paramount announced the appointment of Makan Delrahim, who was part of the legal firm that advised Skydance during the merger process, as chief legal officer. Delrahim is also the former assistant attorney general who oversaw the U.S. Department of Justice’s antitrust division during Trump’s first administration, when Disney’s acquisition of Fox Corp.’s 21st Century Fox assets was completed.
The company has also added Dennis Cinelli, who currently serves as CFO of Scale AI, as an independent director to its board; and hired Dane Glasgow as its chief product officer. Glasgow had previously worked at Meta, Google, eBay and Microsoft.
Ellison has said there will be a focus on AI and tech advancements for the company’s streaming services, as well as in other parts of the company.
