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Paramount Names Bari Weiss CBS News Editor-in-Chief After Acquiring The Free Press
Weiss, whose site was bought in October, has replaced top 60 Minutes staff and pulled segments since taking the role.
Jun 12, 3:00 AM·1m read1 source
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Paramount bought Bari Weiss’s news and opinion site, the Free Press, in October. Paramount CEO David Ellison then appointed Weiss editor-in-chief of CBS News. CBS News settled a $16 million lawsuit brought by the Trump administration.
The network has also parted ways with longtime 60 Minutes journalist Scott Pelley, executive producer Tanya Simon, and correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi. Weiss hired tech journalist Nick Bilton as executive producer to lead 60 Minutes. At a staff meeting, Pelley questioned whether Bilton had adequate credentials to run the show and said he would never be welcome at 60 Minutes.
Pelley accused Weiss of “murdering” the program shortly before he was fired. ” CBS News told CNN that Pelley’s claims were not credible and that there is no political interference at the news organization. CBS News has said it cannot share why someone was fired, for legal reasons.
1 million viewers on average in its most recent season, a 9% increase from the season prior. Weiss abruptly pulled a scheduled segment on torture in the Salvadoran prison receiving Trump administration deportees. Weiss said the segment wasn’t ready and urged the reporters to seek additional comment from the White House.
