Core Values Bari Weiss Will Uphold as CBS News Chief Editor

Bari Weiss has embarked on a new journey with CBS News, stepping in as the editor-in-chief after successfully negotiating the sale of her company, The Free Press, to Paramount. Despite The Free Press still operating autonomously, Weiss is now leading CBS News with a fresh outlook and a strong sense of pace, which she communicated in a memo on her first day.

From her previous experience as an opinion writer with The New York Times and her role in establishing the non-mainstream media outlet The Free Press, Weiss has positioned herself as a figure who pushes boundaries. This move to CBS News is seen as an extension of her commitment to promoting 'fair, fearless, and factual' journalism, as she expressed in her memorandum shared with the staff.

Weiss outlined a set of 10 core principles that she plans to prioritize at CBS News, which includes ensuring balanced scrutiny of both American political parties. Under her leadership, she is determined to leverage the ethos of independent journalism from The Free Press to enrich CBS News with diverse and influential reporting.

Despite some skepticism from both current and former employees about how Weiss's advocacy-driven past will meld with a straight-news format, she remains focused on cultivating the most dependable news organization of our time. Her mission is to reinvigorate CBS News using a blend of innovative storytelling and principled editorial practices.

David Ellison, CEO of Paramount, expressed his confidence in Weiss's ability to bring a vibrancy and resolute journalistic direction to CBS News. Her entrepreneurial spirit, combined with her editorial insights, is anticipated to breathe new life into the venerable news institution.

A Message from Bari Weiss

Colleagues, I am elated and privileged to address you as CBS News' new editor-in-chief. CBS holds a special place in my family's history; its iconic sounds bring me back to days in our Pittsburgh family room. To continue this legacy with you, and to renew it in these crucial times, is an opportunity I deeply cherish.

I'm aware that many questions may arise, and I share your curiosity. My intention is to engage with you, to understand the newsroom dynamics, and to gather your perspectives on enhancing our credibility as a leading global news source.

At the heart of my commitment is a dedication to the foundational journalistic values: reporting with accuracy, fairness, and bravery; respecting our audience by presenting truth plainly; navigating through the clamor to provide clarity; and scrutinizing all sides of political discourse without bias. My focus will also be on embracing a variety of perspectives, covering significant and engaging stories, regardless of their initial appeal, and using digital tools to enhance our storytelling.

I am eager to meet and collaborate with each of you, to learn from your experiences as we work towards creating a news organization that truly serves the public with uncompromised facts.

With anticipation and gratitude, Bari