Next week, CBS News will welcome Bari Weiss, the 41-year-old founder of The Free Press, as its new editor-in-chief, according to sources familiar with the matter who spoke anonymously. The announcement could come as early as Monday.
Weiss, a polarizing figure known for her critiques of progressive orthodoxy, will step into a role once held by journalism giants like Walter Cronkite and Mike Wallace, marking a bold pivot for the network.
The LA Times reports David Ellison, 42, chairman and CEO of CBS parent Paramount, spearheaded the move as part of his strategy to overhaul the network following Skydance Media’s $8 billion merger with Paramount. Weiss will report directly to Ellison and collaborate with CBS News President Tom Cibrowski, who joined in February 2025.
Weiss’ rapid ascent from a New York Times opinion editor to a leadership role at a legacy TV news organization with over 1,000 employees is unprecedented, especially given her lack of television experience. Her appointment has sparked intense debate in media circles, with questions about whether she’ll reshape CBS News—recently plagued by management turnover and political pressures—in her image.
Ellison, whose father is Oracle co-founder and Trump ally Larry Ellison, has emphasized repositioning CBS News to appeal to the 70% of Americans identifying as center-left or center-right. Weiss’ arrival could steer the network toward a less ideologically rigid stance, though it risks alienating viewers accustomed to its traditional tone. X posts reflect the divide, with some praising her as a fresh voice and others decrying her as a provocateur unfit for broadcast leadership.