No. 10: Bari Weiss: The journalist who went from challenging legacy media to running it

Bari Weiss, a journalist known for challenging traditional media, has become editor-in-chief of CBS News following Paramount Skydance's acquisition of her independent media company, The Free Press, for $150 million in October 2025. Weiss, 42, previously left The New York Times in 2020, citing ideological conformity. Her Jewish identity and support for Israel are central to her public voice, with The Free Press becoming a prominent outlet covering antisemitism and Zionism, especially since October 7. At CBS, she aims to adapt the network to changing audiences, bringing in independent voices and overhauling programs like "60 Minutes." Weiss has stated her goal is for CBS to "speak to the Center-Left and Center-Right rather than one political tribe."