Weiss Set to Bring Down CBS’s Independence

Renowned editor and founder of The Free Press, Bari Weiss, seems all set for a substantial position at CBS News, as indicated by numerous sources. The buzz is that Paramount, on the verge of procuring The Free Press for a staggering $200 million, intends to promote Weiss to a significant role at CBS. This purchase is intertwined with Skydance Media’s recent consolidation with Paramount, the parent company of CBS. In an intriguing development, Ellison, Skydance Media’s head, plans to appoint an ombudsperson to counter any perceived bias at CBS News and to dismantle any diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives currently in place.

Reports of the prospective Free Press investment and the recruitment of Weiss are suggestive of CBS News taking a notably right-leaning path under the guidance of Skydance’s David Ellison. This becomes particularly intriguing given his prior declarations of maintaining distance from politicizing the organization. Weiss, formerly a columnist for The New York Times, has a reputation of delivering critical viewpoints about topics like the Me Too movement and campus activism, based on what she perceives as their extremes.

Weiss parted ways with The Times back in 2020 after releasing a resignation letter where she blamed the publication for suppressing ideological variety and critics who opposed left-leaning standpoints. She is also recognized as the writer of the 2019 publication, “How to Fight Anti-Semitism.” The Free Press claims its foundation rests on ‘fierce independence’, pledging commitment to stories ‘misinterpreted or neglected in favor of a partisan narrative.’

However, The Free Press has not escaped critique. It has faced backlash for issues that included an amicable dialogue with venture capitalist Peter Thiel and for content that aimed to downplay reports of famine in Gaza by highlighting other health afflictions and injuries endured by Palestinian children. Predictably, such perspectives don’t sit well with everyone, attracting negative critique from diverse quarters.

The speculation revolving around this acquisition provides a hint of Ellison’s intended strategy for CBS News as it moves into the future. Ellison, the offspring of a prominent Trump supporter, seems ready to change gears and steer the network in a direction that aligns more closely with his vision, which does not seem entirely neutral.

We also observe other decided moves that outline the possible future course of this historic network. Prior to Skydance’s successful procurement of Paramount, CBS decided to resolve a lawsuit initiated by Trump pertaining to alterations made to a ’60 Minutes’ interview with the then-Vice President Kamala Harris prior to the 2024 elections. This decision raises eyebrows, and poses serious doubts about media freedom.

A curious aspect is an alleged side deal in the Paramount’s merger with Skydance, as suggested by Trump. This deal supposedly secures millions in favorable advertisements at CBS News, a detail that raises questions about the neutrality of the media company. Additionally, CBS declared the cancellation of ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’ for financial reasons. Some might say that these are blatant indicators of a network yielding to outside pressures.

CBS, well-known for their unbiased reporting, may be shifting, aligning more closely to heavy-hitting conservative influencers. Colbert, a frequent critic of the Trump administration, has suddenly been sidelined. While CBS cites financial reasons, rumors suggest other influences may have played a part in the decision.

Despite police actions, negative press, opposing views, and financial instabilities, the CBS network has stood as a beacon of free speech. Its focus on ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’ was a refreshing contrast. However, with CBS announcing its termination, it seems the age of fearless television might be seeing its curtain call.

An echo of this unfolded when CBS acquiesced to settle a lawsuit lodged by Trump over edits to then-Vice President Kamala Harris’s ’60 Minutes’ interview. The move sparked a discourse on press freedom and what it truly stands for in a politically polarized environment.

As CBS moves towards an increasingly conservative outlook under the stewardship of Skydance’s David Ellison, discerning viewers wonder if this is a progressive step forward or if CBS is gradually blotting out its foundational values. CBS’s alterations convey a shift in the power dynamics, hinting at a more controlled journalistic future.

However, not all are convinced. Troubling questions surface: Why did CBS yield to a lawsuit when press freedom should have been upheld? And why the sudden dismissal of Colbert, a beacon of fearless journalism? Once widely respected for its unbiased investigative reporting, critics worry CBS is turning a blind eye to these questions.

Furthermore, the speculated acquisition of Free Press by Paramount and the ascension of Bari Weiss to CBS’s top ranks emits an air of conservatism. Free Press’s reputation does little to sway these speculations. As the saga unfolds, the public’s guess is as good as any about CBS’s future trajectory.

In the end, it seems David Ellison’s personal preferences are heavily influencing the CBS network. With Skydance Media’s merger and subsequent decisions, he appears to be steering CBS deeper into a new journalistic era that sharply contrasts with its previous neutrality.

Weiss’s recruitment, the predicted merger, and changes at CBS collectively reek of partisan favoritism, troubling many who fear a decline in the quality of journalism. As changes in CBS’s ideological slant present themselves, some question whether CBS, once the emblem of unbiased journalism, has capitulated under conservative influence. The changes provide a disheartening testament for those who advocated for the very conduct that CBS now seems to be forsaking.