00:00CBS News is getting a new ombudsman, as promised, as part of the Skydance merger with Paramount,
00:06CBS's parent company. The network on Monday appointed Kenneth R. Weinstein,
00:11former CEO of the right-leaning Hudson Institute,
00:15to review complaints and concerns about CBS News coverage.
00:21Weinstein will report directly to Paramount's president, Jeff Schell. But Schell says the
00:27role is meant to be a transparency vehicle, not an oversight vehicle, meaning Weinstein won't have
00:34direct control over editorial decisions, but his input will be welcome. The position was created
00:41as part of Paramount's recent merger with Skydance, and installing an ombudsman as a push to make CBS
00:48News unbiased was a pledge made to the Federal Communications Commission as they sought approval.
00:55And now we know who that will be. Weinstein served on federal boards under both Democratic
01:01and Republican administrations, but is also known to support Republican causes. He has donated $40,000
01:08to Republican and pro-Trump groups, according to a New York Times review, and he was nominated by
01:14Trump in 2020 to serve as ambassador to Japan. Weinstein is also known as a supporter of Israel
01:21and has previously critiqued the Biden administration. While the Times says media
01:27companies installing an ombudsman is rare, it has happened before. When News Corp acquired the
01:33Wall Street Journal in 2007, they implemented an oversight committee as an added layer of editorial
01:40scrutiny. And at Straight Arrow News, we also have a biased committee as an extra layer of scrutiny
01:46to help hold our work to high journalistic standards.
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