Paramount has named former NYT columnist Bari Weiss to lead CBS News, marking the most recent move by new owners to reshape activities of a major US news networks.
Paramount is furthermore purchasing The Free Press, the online publication Weiss started after her contentious exit from the New York Times, in a agreement reported to be worth $150 million.
Ms Weiss, who has challenged broadcast media for becoming too partisan, said she was enthusiastic to put her stamp on CBS, which was acquired by David Ellison earlier this year as part of a wider merger with Paramount.
Ms Weiss, who started her career at Jewish news outlets, is noted for her advocacy of Israel and her skepticism of "cancel culture".
Beginning as a digital bulletin in 2021, The Free Press has accumulated 1.5 million readers, including over 170,000 subscribing supporters.
It has garnered notice for reports such as a feature questioning of NPR by one of its former business editors, as well as an investigation of some photographs used by mainstream news outlets to showcase famine in Gaza.
Notable writers include academic Niall Ferguson and financial expert Tyler Cowen.
Mr Ellison said the selection of Ms Weiss as editor-in-chief was part of a bigger initiative to refresh content at Paramount and make CBS the "most reliable name in news".
"We think the majority of the country wants news that is fair and fact-based, and we want CBS to be their home," he said.
Specifics of the agreement were not revealed. Paramount refused to discuss reports that the firm had paid $150 million in shares and money.
Mr Ellison built his career as a Hollywood movie maker of hit movies such as Top Gun Maverick, True Grit and World War Z.
He has said his objective is to produce journalism that is less politically skewed, and therefore has the potential to reach all viewers.
His purchase of Paramount was cleared by government authorities this summer, after the company consented to pay $16 million to resolve a court case.
To obtain consent of the transaction, Mr Ellison committed to establish an independent ombudsman at CBS to examine concerns of bias and committed to authorities that content would include a diversity of view points.
He further said CBS's long-running political show "Face the Nation" would discontinue air altered conversations.
CBS News has a collaborative arrangement with an international broadcaster, meaning news reporting including video footage can be distributed.
In a statement declaring the arrangement, Ms Weiss said she trusted in the Paramount leader and his management group.
"They are doubling down because they believe in news. Because they have conviction. Because they love this country. And because they recognize, as we do, that America cannot thrive without shared information, common truths, and a unified worldview," she stated.
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