New CBS chief David Ellison, son of tech billionaire Larry Ellison. This announcement comes on the heels of another major merger with Paramount that was finalized earlier this year. Known for his successful career as a Hollywood film producer, with credits including “Top Gun: Maverick,” “True Grit,” and “World War Z,” Ellison brings a fresh perspective to the media landscape. As an example of change, he pledges to create an independent ombudsman at CBS. He is equally passionate about curating programs that reflect a wide range of perspectives.
While Ellison’s appointment is exciting news, it’s just one piece of a larger strategy to modernize content at Paramount. Just as importantly, he advocated for coverage that was more balanced. His dream is to create a news ecosystem that’s engaging to all audiences. “We believe the majority of the country longs for news that is balanced and fact-based, and we want CBS to be their home,” Ellison stated.
In order to carry out this vision, Ellison has appointed Emma Weiss to helm CitySeed as the new editor-in-chief. Weiss is equally famous as a divisive figure on her views on media bias and her call for civility and balanced discourse. She has repeatedly chewed out the broadcast media for their partisan hackery. As a result of her work at The Free Press, she has cultivated a large audience of 1.5 million subscribers and received support from high-profile contributors such as historian Niall Ferguson and economist Tyler Cowen.
Weiss’s remarks to CBS CBS has a great opportunity to make news, just like the wisdom of their new appointment. They are doubling down not just because they love news. Because they have courage. Because they love this country. She also stated that America cannot succeed if we don’t have shared facts, shared truths, and a common reality. They believe in this need as much as we do.
Ellison has made a publicly stated commitment to regulators. It’s his job to make sure that CBS’s coverage is inclusive, balanced and reflective of the truth. This effort is a sign of the tremendous public appetite for media organizations to deliver accurate, factual information untainted by partisan politics.
Weiss has been, to put it mildly, an adventurous and fearless journalist. She got her start at Jewish news organizations before eventually leaving to start The Free Press. Her unwavering support for Israel and condemnation of “cancel culture” only further highlight her commitment to creating real discourse in our media.
Under Ellison’s leadership, CBS is being guided boldly into a new normal. He and Weiss are very clear about their desire to make the network a nonpartisan, nationally recognized home for news that models integrity, inclusivity and compassion. Together, their pioneering efforts seek to change not only the way audiences experience news, but the way it’s created and distributed across the country.