Former New York Times opinion writer Bari Weiss, 41, has made headlines after being brought in by Donald Trump supporter and new Chairman and CEO of Paramount, David Ellison. Weiss has been tasked with shaking up the network news division and steering it away from its left-leaning reporting.
Ellison’s goal is to bring balance back to the ratings-challenged shows on CBS, which have been accused of alienating moderate and Republican viewers. In her hiring announcement on October 6, Ellison expressed his belief that the majority of the country desires news that is both balanced and fact-based, and he sees CBS as the perfect platform for this.
Weiss wasted no time in making her presence known. Shortly after her hiring, she called a meeting with the staff of 60 Minutes and posed a tough question: “Why does the country think you’re biased?” The room was reportedly left in stunned silence as Weiss challenged the team to reevaluate their reporting practices.
The network has recently faced criticism for its handling of interviews, particularly a lawsuit filed by former President Donald Trump. In August, CBS and Paramount agreed to settle with Trump for $16 million after he accused them of editing an interview with his 2024 campaign opponent, Kamala Harris, in a deceptive manner.
With Weiss at the helm, CBS is hoping to turn the tide and regain the trust of viewers who feel alienated by the network’s perceived bias. As a champion of independent and principled journalism, Weiss is determined to lead CBS into a new era of balanced and fact-based reporting. The network is betting on her leadership to bring about a much-needed transformation in its news division.
