Bloomberg Businessweek Paramount Buys the Free Press, Names Bari Weiss CBS News Chief
Oct 7, 2025
Katie Fallow, Deputy Litigation Director at the Knight First Amendment Institute, dives into Paramount Skydance's acquisition of the online news site Free Press and the appointment of Bari Weiss as CBS News chief. Fallow discusses the potential implications for press freedoms and media consolidation, highlighting how Weiss's roots in independent journalism might clash with corporate pressures. The conversation also delves into how this move reflects broader political dynamics, especially in the wake of the Trump administration.
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Paramount Merges Upstart With Legacy News
- Paramount bought The Free Press and named Bari Weiss to run CBS News, linking an upstart Substack outlet to legacy broadcast brands like 60 Minutes.
- The move signals a notable shift in ownership and editorial control at a major news division during a fraught political moment.
Context Suggests Political And Regulatory Pressure
- Katie Fallow frames the deal within broader moves by Paramount and pressure from the Trump administration and regulators.
- She suggests these combined actions raise questions about whether coverage is being shifted to appease political power.
Settlement And Appointments Hint At Editorial Shift
- Paramount previously settled what many described as a frivolous lawsuit from President Trump over a 60 Minutes segment and faced an FCC inquiry.
- Those actions, combined with the Weiss hire and a conservative ombudsman, suggest editorial recalibration to avoid regulatory or political trouble.