Paramount Skydance to buy The Free Press, Bari Weiss to lead CBS News

Paramount Skydance is poised to buy the news startup The Free Press and install its founder, Bari Weiss, as editor in chief of CBS News, people familiar with the discussions said, in a move that would place Weiss at the editorial helm of the broadcaster’s flagship news programs. The agreement, which could be announced as soon as Monday, is reported to value The Free Press at roughly $150 million, to be paid in a mix of cash and stock, and would make the site a standalone entity within the Paramount portfolio.

Under the reported arrangement, Weiss would report directly to Paramount Chief Executive David Ellison rather than through the traditional CBS News reporting lines, a structure that could alter the newsroom’s internal chain of command. Tom Cibrowski, who became president and executive editor of CBS News earlier this year, is expected to remain in his role and work alongside Weiss, sources said. A CBS spokesperson declined to comment and Paramount did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Weiss, 41, founded The Free Press after leaving a previous role at a major newspaper in 2020. She has worked in opinion and editorial roles at national publications and built The...