David Ellison, chief executive of Skydance Media and the prospective owner of Paramount Global, has opened formal talks with journalist-entrepreneur Bari Weiss about purchasing her three-year-old publication, The Free Press, people familiar with the matter said. The two met on Friday during the Allen & Co. conference in Sun Valley, deepening preliminary discussions first reported last week. A deal would give Ellison a digital brand known for contrarian commentary just as he prepares to take charge of CBS News under an $8.4 billion merger between Skydance and Paramount. One option under consideration would allow Weiss to steer aspects of CBS News’ editorial direction while continuing to run The Free Press, which investors last year valued at roughly $100 million. No terms have been agreed and the talks could still end without a transaction. Ellison’s courtship of Weiss comes as he seeks regulatory approval for the Paramount acquisition. According to an FCC filing, the executive met Chairman Brendan Carr and other officials on Tuesday to argue the merger is in the public interest and to pledge that CBS News coverage would “reflect varied ideological perspectives.” Ellison is also reshaping the network’s leadership bench. Former CBS News president David Rhodes, now executive chairman of Sky News, is in discussions to return to his old post once the merger closes, Reuters reported, citing sources. The management and editorial moves offer an early glimpse of Ellison’s plans for CBS as the transaction awaits a decision from the FCC.