🔗 Share this article The journalist Bari Weiss's Rise to the CBS network Top Position Spotlights Rightward Shift in American Journalism A recent hiring of journalist Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief of the CBS network underscores a wider movement in American media toward right-leaning stances. The newly formed conglomerate, which owns CBS, additionally purchased Weiss's publication, the media venture she helped launch in 2021, at an estimated $150 million. A Contrarian Voice Assumes Leadership Weiss has built her career as a moderate conservative commentator of left-wing ideologies. The Free Press describes itself as a independent, right-leaning and ardently Zionist outlet that champions free discourse and uncomfortable realities. Significantly, Weiss will answer to Paramount’s chief executive, David Ellison, bypassing the president of CBS News. Media Giants Shift Rightward This decision indicates a ongoing conservative shift among American news corporations. Weiss’s own career path mirrors a broader trend that has seen mainstream outlets transition from cautious allies of the anti-Trump “resistance” to accommodating a changed landscape. The past can seem like a distant era: when Weiss stepped down from the the Times in July 2020, American media was caught up of ideological fervor, with left-leaning voices appearing to hold sway in various fields. In 2020, the president occupied the White House, but his time in power and the murder of George Floyd sparked a wave of progressive activism that affected media, executive suites, and universities. Organizations launched diversity initiatives, workers included pronouns in email signatures, and companies began making land acknowledgments. A Critical Moment at the New York Times Amid that period, the New York Times published an opinion piece by Republican senator Senator Cotton calling for the use of military to restore order. A fierce backlash and staff protests led to the departure of the paper's top editor, James Bennet. She was a colleague of Bennet, resigned a month later. In a public letter, she claimed the Times of being narrow-minded and too responsive to online critics. She stated that co-workers had treated her as a outsider for her views. Starting Small to Major Influence As she announced plans to start a newsletter called Common Sense, some in media were skeptical, predicting it would cater to a niche audience of unhappy moderates. Yet, just five years later, the industry has changed dramatically. Donald Trump has used national guard troops in US urban areas. The platform X, under its owner, has evolved into a far-right hub. Universities are cracking down on protests and firing professors. Corporations have cut diversity initiatives. Rather than a censored figure, Weiss is now poised to be one of the most powerful women in national media, with her startup alongside one of the most established media names in the United States. Adapting to Power Major media outlets appear to be bending over backwards to satisfy the second Trump administration. Last year, the president sued CBS over a news program interview with Kamala Harris, claiming it was altered to benefit her. Although observers saw the case as without merit, CBS's parent chose to settle it for $16 million. Other companies, including Google’s YouTube, Facebook's owner, Disney’s ABC, and the platform, have likewise settled comparable lawsuits. A New Era for US Media Additional steps include CBS hiring a ex-administration figure as an bias monitor and the entertainment giant briefly dropping a host's show after FCC objections. The political and societal climate have shifted sharply to the right, and media companies are proving themselves to be sensitive indicators rather than unshakable institutions. Weiss, whatever the validity of her ideologies, stands out as a shrewd operator in this transformed landscape.