July 11 (Reuters) - Skydance Media CEO David Ellison has

held preliminary talks to acquire The Free Press, an online news

outlet, the New York Times ( NYT ) reported on Friday, citing people

familiar with the matter.

The news comes as Skydance is seeking to close its $8.4

billion merger with Paramount Global ( PARAA ), which is awaiting

approval from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission.

The Free Press, co-founded by former New York Times

journalist Bari Weiss, describes itself as a platform committed

to independent journalism.

Ellison and Weiss have discussed several potential

collaborations, including a role for Weiss in shaping CBS News'

editorial direction, though not in a managerial capacity, the

report added.

Last week, Paramount agreed to pay $16 million to resolve a

civil suit filed by by U.S. President Donald Trump against

Paramount-owned CBS News.

This week, Weiss and Ellison are attending the annual Allen

& Company conference in Sun Valley, the NYT report said.

Skydance and The Free Press did not immediately respond to

Reuters requests for comment.

The Free Press has more than 30 investors, including Yael

Aflalo, the founder of Reformation, and Bobby Kotick, the former

chief executive of Activision Blizzard, the report added.