Paramount Global has served as former CEO of Hudson Institute Kenneth Weinstein as the ombudsman for CBS News, leading a conservative think tank and assigned people to monitor news units’ reporting and scrutinize it against bias claims, primarily outside the traditional world of journalism.
Weinstein arrives after CBS News arrives under a microscope named in a lawsuit imposed by President Trump, tied up by the editorial interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris in “60 minutes.” The merits of that case were widely seen as a widespread lack of money, but Paramount chose to bring someone along as some sort of investigator when reporting the lack of a neutral surface of CBS News.
Weinstein, a longtime policy analyst who has served as an advisor to the Trump administration, will do that.
“When trust in the media is more important than ever, this new role strengthens our commitment to truth, trust and accountability,” said Jeff Shell, president of Paramount, in a statement. “I have known him for many years and have great respect for his integrity, sound judgment and thoughtful approach to complex issues. Ken brings a wealth of advisory experience across the media and beyond, bringing a gentle, measured perspective that is very suitable for him to serve as our ombudsman.”
Weinstein once chaired a committee of broadcasters and now called the US global media agency. It distributes news and reports to parts of the world where press freedom is limited, but not preferred by the US government that supports it during Trump’s tenure.
Paramount’s movement may only be added to questions about CBS News’ ability to remain objective. Because Weinstein has connections with government officials and world leaders and leads policy organisations with defined political agendas, he may be viewed as inappropriate to play the role of an ombudsman in a major news organisation striving to cover news events from a down-the-middle perspective.
The two familiar with CBS News on Monday found that Weinstein was concerned about Paramount’s operation asking whether they would work with CBS News Executives at all or simply consider Paramount’s corporate level issues. The move suggested that it appears to predict the arrival of Bari Weiss, the leader of emerging digital site The Free Press. Weiss believes that, according to people familiar with the discussion, will acquire a role as part of an acquisition that empowers them to allocate stories and manage the CBS program, but the actual position they will gain at the company remains unknown.
Such obligations are typically resident of executive producers who run various CBS News programs.
Paramount said it has established a process on how to handle potential complaints from consumers, employees. Weinstein reviews everything and nurtures people who think there is a need for further action against Paramount’s Shell and George Cheek, who oversees television operations. If the trio collectively decides that such outreach is necessary, Weinstein, Shell and Cheek will address the complaints of Tom Cibrowski, president and executive editor of CBS News, who recommends and implements the necessary action steps.
