On October 6, 2025, Paramount announced the acquisition of The Free Press, the independent subscription media company founded by Bari Weiss, for $150 million in cash and stock. As part of the deal, Weiss was named editor-in-chief of CBS News, a newly created position at the network.

The Acquisition

Paramount, now owned by Skydance Media following a merger completed in August 2025, positioned the acquisition as bringing together CBS News’ established reach with The Free Press’ digital innovation and subscriber-focused approach. The Free Press had grown to 1.5 million subscribers, with over 170,000 paid subscribers, since its launch in 2021.

New Leadership Structure

As editor-in-chief, Weiss reports directly to Paramount CEO David Ellison and partners with CBS News President Tom Cibrowski. The Free Press maintains its independent brand and operations, with Weiss continuing to lead both organizations. This marks the first time CBS News has had an editor-in-chief position.

Background and Context

Weiss, who resigned from The New York Times in 2020, launched her newsletter “Common Sense” in 2021 before expanding it into The Free Press media company in 2022. The acquisition comes after Paramount settled a $16 million defamation lawsuit with Donald Trump over a “60 Minutes” segment and follows promises by Skydance leadership to embrace diverse political viewpoints at CBS News.

Industry Impact

The appointment generated significant discussion within CBS News, with reports of staff concerns about the direction of the newsroom. To introduce The Free Press to broader audiences, the publication lifted its paywall for a “Free Week” from October 6-12, 2025. The move represents a significant shift in CBS News’ editorial approach and digital strategy under new ownership.