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2d ago

Paramount Names Kenneth Weinstein CBS News Ombudsman Under FCC Merger Condition

The appointment installs a complaint-review process that routes select cases to Jeff Shell, George Cheeks, then CBS News chief Tom Cibrowski.

FILE - Hudson Institute President & CEO Ken Weinstein speaks during the Herman Kahn Award Gala, Oct. 30, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)
Paramount Global and Skydance logos are seen in this illustration taken December 17, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
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Overview

  • Paramount Skydance created the post to satisfy an FCC condition of its late-July merger approval, with a commitment to keep it in place for at least two years.
  • Complaints from viewers or employees will go to Weinstein, who can escalate cases to Paramount’s Jeff Shell and George Cheeks, then to CBS News chief Tom Cibrowski for potential action.
  • The former Hudson Institute leader also served as chair of the Broadcasting Board of Governors and was nominated by President Trump to be ambassador to Japan in 2020.
  • Unlike traditional public editors, the company says the position will not be public-facing, prompting warnings from FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez and others about risks to newsroom independence.
  • The appointment follows a $16 million settlement of Trump’s 60 Minutes lawsuit and a new rule requiring most Face the Nation interviews to run live or live-to-tape, with multiple outlets reporting talks to buy The Free Press and elevate Bari Weiss.