NEW YORK (AP) — CBS Information has a brand new ombudsman assigned to look into public complaints, however the job being assumed by Kenneth Weinstein bears little resemblance to how this watchdog position has historically operated in journalism.
Weinstein, appointed Monday by CBS’ father or mother firm Paramount, has little background in journalism and his duties embrace no public position. He is the previous head of a conservative assume tank and has made a number of donations to Republican causes, together with President Donald Trump’s 2024 marketing campaign.
The corporate agreed to rent an individual to analyze complaints about political bias this summer time, days earlier than the Federal Communications Fee accepted the merger of Paramount with Skydance Corp.
“I am honored to serve as ombudsman for CBS News, one of the most respected journalistic institutions in the world,” Weinstein mentioned in an announcement. “I look forward to supporting the talented team behind its reporting and to stewarding public trust in this critical institution.”
He is assigned to overview complaints from shoppers and staff and, if he determines motion is required, increase it with Paramount president Jeff Shell and George Cheeks, the corporate’s head of TV Media. Solely then will they create it to the CBS Information president.
Fewer information organizations have been using ombudsmen
In information organizations that make use of ombudsmen — and the quantity who do has been shrinking — the job successfully studies to the general public, mentioned Kelly McBride, knowledgeable in media ethics on the Poynter Institute and NPR’s public editor. However Paramount mentioned it doesn’t envision Weinstein having any public-facing position.
Weinstein was president of the Washington-based Hudson Institute, which concentrates on international coverage and nationwide safety points. Described in his bio as a “political theorist by training,” he was appointed to the Broadcasting Board of Governors by President Barack Obama in 2013 and elected chairman of that group in 2017, succeeding Shell.
That group, now generally known as the U.S. Company for World Media, oversees government-run media retailers like Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, that are primarily being dismantled by Trump.
Weinstein was nominated by Trump to be ambassador to Japan in 2020, however the Senate didn’t act on the appointment.
He has donated to a number of Republican causes and candidates, together with Nikki Haley, Marco Rubio, John McCain and Mitt Romney, based on the Federal Elections Fee. Final 12 months, he donated $6,600 to Trump, $5,000 to the Trump-aligned Save America PAC and $10,900 to the Republican Nationwide Committee.
Skydance chief David Ellison and his staff are being watched to see whether or not they set up a observe report of bowing to Trump. Shortly earlier than the merger was accepted, Paramount agreed to pay the president $16 million to settle his complaints {that a} “60 Minutes” interview of election opponent Kamala Harris final fall was biased towards him.
Final week, following complaints by Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem about enhancing of her “Face the Nation” interview, CBS mentioned it will not allow enhancing of its interviews previous to broadcast. Critics mentioned they feared this might result in the unfold of disinformation.
Together with his credentials, Weinstein appears “perfectly capable of doing the job” of ombudsman, McBride mentioned.
“The question is, ‘What is the job?’” she mentioned.
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AP investigative researcher Randy Herschaft contributed to this report. David Bauder writes concerning the intersection of media and leisure for the AP. Comply with him at http://x.com/dbauder and https://bsky.app/profile/dbauder.bsky.social.
