The controversial founder and editor of The Free Press, Bari Weiss, is expected to ascend to a high-level position at CBS News, as per various news outlets. Paramount, on the brink of finalizing a purchase deal for The Free Press at a stunning figure of up to $200 million, seeks to position Weiss as their next ace in the hole at CBS. This development trails Skydance Media’s recent alliance with Paramount, the overseeing company of CBS. Despite pretenses of remaining politically neutral, Skydance committed to introducing an ombudsperson to scrutinize alleged bias at CBS News and discontinue diversity, inclusion, and equity initiatives therein.
The rumored transaction involving The Free Press and the consequent Weiss appointment suggests a lean towards a more conservative trajectory for CBS News under Skydance head honcho, David Ellison. This marks a slight change of pace given Ellison’s earlier assertions of avoiding any politicization of the company. Weiss boasts of a notable tenure as an opinion columnist at The New York Times, where her contrarian stance earned her notoriety, particularly with her pieces disparaging the Me Too movement and campus activism for their perceived excesses.
Weiss broke ties with The Times in 2020 following the release of a resignation letter that chastised the esteemed publication for supposedly suppressing ideological diversity and dissident voices of progressive viewpoints. She grabbed headlines once more with her 2019 book, ‘How to Fight Anti-Semitism.’ The Free Press, under Weiss, prides itself as an ardent champion of unbridled independence and a steadfast commitment to underrepresented narratives or those distorted in the pursuit of ideological agendas.
However, The Free Press hasn’t been immune to criticism. Its detractors have targeted it for content perceived as questionable, such as an amicable interview with venture capitalist Peter Thiel and an attempt to gloss over reports of starvation in Gaza by drawing attention to other ailments and injuries Palestinian children face. The emerging acquisition paints a promising picture of Ellison’s vision for CBS News.
Ellison, the offspring of a stout Trump supporter, could significantly influence the CBS network’s orientation. The Paramount-Skydance purchase is just one of a series of strategic moves indicating the possible path CBS News could take under this new direction.
A noteworthy development was CBS’s settlement of a lawsuit initiated by Trump concerning alterations made to a ’60 Minutes’ interview with then Vice President Kamala Harris before the 2024 elections. This move sparked substantial alarm bells regarding the state of press freedom. Harris’ floundering performance and CBS’s subsequent damage control have raised eyebrows, prompting speculation about the degree to which the network may go to cover up such incidents.
Furthermore, Trump has insinuated that there may be an ulterior deal accompanying Paramount’s merger with Skydance. This secret pact could potentially ensure millions in favorable advertising at CBS News, leading to allegations about bias.
CBS’s announcement about the cancellation of ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’, a habitual critic of Trump, citing financial justifications adds another intriguing twist to the story. To some, cutting the show of an outspoken Trump critic can’t be a mere coincidence. Yet, the network claims it’s a purely economical decision.
What these coordinated moves signal towards is a less-than-subtle pivot towards a more conservative approach, one that might cater to the interests of particular personalities and viewpoints. David Ellison’s influence is shaping up to be an interesting factor in this potential redirection of CBS News.
Amid allegations, rumors, and rapid changes, the future of CBS in the post-Paramount era is going to be under a magnifying glass. Harris’ 2024 elections’ debacle and the CBS’s handling of the situation is just a peek into the changes that the network is likely to undergo.
Will the hyped acquisition with The Free Press turn out to be a game-changer or is it just another politicization attempt that could potentially falter CBS’s credibility? Only time will tell how it shapes the network’s editorial policy.
While some may argue that these shifts are normal in the highly competitive media landscape, the drastic lean towards conservatism, the omission of diverse voices, and the seemingly bias towards certain political figures is far from ordinary, even seen as intimidating.
The CBS of the future under the leadership of Ellison and Weiss might well serve as a platform to promulgate decidedly conservative perspectives, distorting the core principle of a free press — to hold power accountable, regardless of who holds it.
The prospect of CBS News neglecting journalistic impartiality is alarming, to say the least. CBS risks morphing into a more conservatism-friendly platform, one that is less committed to upholding the principles of a free press.
Overall, if all these speculated changes are implemented, it’s clear that CBS News is striding towards a future that might be far removed from the balanced and objective stance it once held. Only time can reveal if this path will be fruitful or an unfortunate shift in CBS’s long-standing commitment to impartiality.
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