Paramount Buys The Free Press, Names Weiss CBS News Chief (2)

Paramount Skydance Corp. acquired the online news site the Free Press and named founder Bari Weiss editor-in-chief of CBS News, a move likely to stir controversy inside and outside of the venerable news organization.

Weiss, 41, will report to Paramount Chief Executive Officer David Ellison and oversee the editorial direction of a news division whose programs include the prestigious 60 Minutes and CBS News Sunday Morning. Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, but other outlets have reported the acquisition values the Free Press at about $150 million.

“Bari is a proven champion of independent, principled journalism, and I ...