Paramount appoints former Trump nominee as ombudsman for CBS News

Paramount has tapped Kenneth Weinstein to serve as ombudsman for CBS News, a widely buzzed-about move that comes on the heels of the company’s megamerger with Skydance and renewed focus on its editorial bend.

Weinstein, a former president and CEO of Hudson Institute and chair of the United States Agency for Global Media, will serve as “an independent, internal advocate for journalistic integrity and transparency, reviewing concerns raised by employees and viewers, addressing questions about news coverage, and upholding the organization’s longstanding commitment to accuracy and accountability,” the company said in announcing his hiring.

Paramount agreed to appoint an ombudsman as it sought to clear its multibillion-dollar merger with Skydance through President Trump’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The merger’s clearing this summer came just weeks after the company agreed to pay $16 million to Trump’s foundation to settle a lawsuit he brought against the company last year.

Trump and his allies have repeatedly attacked CBS News over its news coverage of his administration, while the president’s FCC chair has signaled a willingness to scrutinize the network’s broadcast license.

As the FCC announced it approved the Paramount, Skydance merger, FCC Chair Brendan Carr celebrated that the media conglomerate had promised to “ensure that the new company’s programming embodies a diversity of viewpoints from across the political and ideological spectrum.”

On Monday, Paramount said under the newly established ombudsman process, complaints from consumers, employees and others will be directed to Weinstein, who will “review each and, if he determines such complaint requires further action, will raise it to Paramount President Jeff Shell and Chair of TV Media George Cheeks.”

“After assessing the complaint, and if they collectively determine that such outreach is necessary, Weinstein, Shell, and Cheeks will address the complaint with the President and Executive Editor of CBS News, Tom Cibrowski, who will recommend and implement any necessary action steps,” the company said.

Weinstein was appointed as ambassador to Japan during Trump’s first term.