Zvika Klein of The Jerusalem Post wrote an op-ed praising CBS News chief Bari Weiss, calling her "one of the bravest journalists" and saying she is "doing more for Israel than most of us." Klein credited Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison for placing Weiss in charge and warned that media owners shape editorial choices. The piece notes staff revolts at CBS News but observes Weiss remains in place, and highlights Mehdi Hasan’s critical social-media reaction. The op-ed also references Ellison’s reported ties to Israeli leaders and his purchase of Weiss’s The Free Press.
Jerusalem Post Editor Praises Bari Weiss as ‘Doing More for Israel Than Most of Us,’ Sparking Debate Over Media Power
Zvika Klein, editor-in-chief of The Jerusalem Post, published an op-ed this week praising newly installed CBS News chief Bari Weiss, arguing that Weiss is "doing more for Israel than most of us." Klein described Weiss as "one of the bravest journalists out there" and credited her with taking concrete steps to change newsroom culture rather than merely debating it.
Key Claims and Quotes
Klein singled out Weiss’s "willingness to blow up conventions and try something different," and framed her as both "an American Jew and an American Zionist who’s doing more for Israel than most of us." He urged journalists to study Weiss’s approach and adapt it to their own newsrooms: "Study what Weiss did. Then go do your own version of it."
"They influence the culture, the hiring, the risk tolerance, what stories get pursued, and which ones get killed. Everyone knows this. Nobody likes admitting it because it punctures the myth of editorial independence." — Zvika Klein
Ownership, Appointments, And Context
Klein credited Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison with installing Weiss at the head of CBS News, noting that media owners play an outsized role in shaping what audiences see. Ellison, whom some reports describe as a close associate of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, now oversees the merged Paramount Skydance. Shortly after the merger was approved, Ellison purchased Weiss’s company, The Free Press, reportedly for $150 million.
Reactions And Fallout
The appointment and Weiss’s leadership prompted staff unrest at CBS News. Klein observed that despite internal revolts, Weiss remains in place: "They did revolt. Weiss is still there. That tells you who has power." The column also drew criticism on social media: Zeteo editor-in-chief and former MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan wrote, "Pretty sure if anyone in the US said this they’d be accused of antisemitism. But it’s the Jerusalem Post in Israel saying it."
Why It Matters
The episode spotlights ongoing tensions over editorial independence, the influence of media owners, and how newsroom leadership choices can shift the tone and priorities of major news organizations. Klein’s op-ed frames Weiss’s appointment not only as an editorial shift at CBS News but also as part of a broader conversation about media influence, identity, and political alignment.
What to watch next: responses from CBS News leadership, further staff statements, and any editorial or programming changes at CBS that reflect the new leadership’s direction.
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