Paramount names ombudsman for CBS News, a former conservative think tank chief

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Paramount appointed Kenneth R. Weinstein, who previously led a right-wing policy institute in Washington, as the ombudsman for CBS News. This move was part of meeting the requirement to secure the Trump administration’s agreement for a $8-billion merger.

On Monday, the company disclosed that concerns or complaints regarding CBS News stories, whether they come from consumers, staff members, or other parties, will be forwarded to Weinstein for evaluation. If he deems it appropriate, he’ll suggest corrective measures to be taken.

Under the new leadership of CEO David Ellison (who now owns Paramount), it has been announced that the former President and CEO of the Hudson Institute, Weinstein, will now report directly to Jeff Shell, who currently holds the position of President at Paramount.

In collaboration with George Cheeks, the President and CEO of CBS, as well as Tom Cibrowski, the executive editor of CBS News, Weinstein will discuss concerns regarding the news coverage and work towards finding solutions.

In order to obtain necessary approval for their acquisition, leading purchaser Skydance Media consented to designate an ombudsman, a step that was finalized in August.

As a passionate cinephile, I’m excited to share that I’ve made a commitment, along with Skydance, to prioritize “perspective variety, fairness, and strengthening local focus” within our news coverage. This agreement comes after the Federal Communications Commission approved our deal – a move that underlines their support for diverse and inclusive media content!

Brendan Carr, FCC Chair, previously expressed that Americans no longer feel confidence in traditional news media for comprehensive, truthful, and impartial reporting. He advocated for change, and now endorses Skydance’s pledge to instigate substantial improvements at the once esteemed CBS broadcast network.

Hollywood Inc.

Among CBS staffers, there was frustration about the $16-million settlement often perceived as a concession to Trump, but this sentiment was softened when they considered the possibility that things could have turned out even more unfavorable.

Under Skydance’s management, CBS News has demonstrated a readiness to adjust its news coverage in response to conflicts with the Trump Administration. On Friday, the division unveiled a fresh policy for its Sunday political talk show “Face the Nation,” choosing to forego editing pre-recorded interviews from now on.

After the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary, Kristi Noem, expressed her concern, a policy change occurred. This was due to the fact that during her August 31 interview on “Face the Nation,” a part of her harsh criticisms against Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man who had been wrongly deported to El Salvador, were removed because of time constraints. Upon his return to the U.S., he now faces new deportation proceedings.

Besides his role at the Hudson Institute, where he remains a chairholder, Weinstein also served on various advisory boards. One of them was the United States Agency for Global Media, previously known as the Broadcasting Board of Governors. This agency, currently led in an interim capacity by Kari Lake, manages the funding for government-operated media platforms like Voice of America.

In addition, Weinstein earned a Ph.D. in government from Harvard University and delivered political theory lectures at Georgetown University and Claremont McKenna College.

As a long-time admirer of his character, I’ve always appreciated Ken Weinstein for his integrity, wise decision-making, and thoughtful handling of intricate matters. His extensive background in media, coupled with his composed, measured perspective, makes him an ideal fit to serve as our Ombudsman. This is my take on the role he will play within our organization.

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2025-09-08 20:31