Bari Weiss Takes the Helm at CBS News in a Decisive Shift for Legacy Media

Bari Weiss, a prominent figure in independent media, has been appointed the new editor in chief of CBS News, marking a significant shift for the legacy network. Weiss, who founded The Free Press, a successful newsletter and podcast venture, has built a reputation for her critique of "wokeness" and her championing of free speech. Her appointment is seen as a recognition of the new landscape of media, where independent outlets have gained prominence. Weiss's ascent to the top of CBS News is unprecedented, as she has not followed the traditional journalistic career path and has no experience directing television coverage.

Key Takeaways:

• Weiss has been appointed the new editor in chief of CBS News, a shift in leadership for the legacy network.
• Weiss's appointment is seen as a recognition of the growing power of independent media, where outlets like The Free Press have gained prominence.
• Weiss has built a reputation for her critique of "wokeness" and her championing of free speech, which has drawn support from billionaires and conservative figures.
• Weiss has described herself as a "left-leaning centrist," but her views on social issues have been criticized by some as divisive.
• The Free Press has criticized corporate diversity initiatives and pro-Palestinian campus protesters, and has been accused of promoting conservative views.
• Weiss has agreed that "cancel culture" is akin to "social murder," and has warned against the "insanity" of acknowledging Indigenous land, adding pronouns to email signatures, and abolishing police and prisons.
• Weiss's leadership at CBS News is expected to bring a new sensibility to the network, with some critics questioning how much of her ideology she will inject into its programming.
• Weiss has insisted that The Free Press is not ideologically homogenous, with a staff split equally between voting for President Trump, Vice President Kamala Harris, and abstaining.
• Weiss's appointment marks a decisive shift in the media landscape, where legacy outlets are struggling to compete with independent outlets and social media platforms.

Statistics:

• The Free Press has amassed over 1.5 million readers and $15 million in annual subscription revenue.
• The Free Press's podcast "The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling" chronicled the backlash over statements by the "Harry Potter" author about transgender women.
• CBS News has announced that it will acquire The Free Press for a price of $150 million in cash and stock.
• Weiss's ascent to the top of CBS News is unprecedented, with no experience directing television coverage or following the traditional journalistic career path.

Sources:

• New York Times, Weiss, Bari, Publicly quitting as editor and opinion writer at The New York Times, 2020
• The Free Press, Introduction, 2021
• Hamish McKenzie, co-founder of Substack, quoted in The New York Times, 2022
• Bari Weiss, speech at the Federalist Society, 2023
• The Free Press, Staff split equally between voting for President Trump, Vice President Kamala Harris, and abstaining, 2024