Kenneth R. Weinstein, the former President and Chief Executive Officer of the right-of-center think tank Hudson Institute, has been named the first ombudsman of CBS News, parent company Paramount announced on Monday.
Under the new process, Paramount said Weinstein will accept complaints from viewers, employees and other stakeholders. Those submissions will be evaluated, and if they merit additional consideration, Weinstein will escalate them 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 in a statement.
The appointment of Weinstein to the ombudsman role fulfills a promise made by Skydance Media to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) while it was seeking approval for its merger with Paramount. The FCC was required to sign off on the transfer of CBS-held local television broadcast licenses as part of the merger. The agency approved the matter in late July, allowing the merger to close in early August.
Shell praised Weinstein’s appointment, saying the role was designed to strengthen accountability and credibility at CBS News at a time when skepticism toward the media is high.
“At a time when trust in media is more important than ever, this new role reinforces our commitment to truth, trust, and accountability,” Shell said. “I’ve known him for many years and have great respect for his integrity, sound judgment, and thoughtful approach to complex issues. Ken brings not only a wealth of advisory experience in media and beyond, but also a calm, measured perspective that makes him exceptionally well-suited to serve as our ombudsman.”
Weinstein said he was honored to join CBS News in the role.
“I am honored to serve as Ombudsman for CBS News, one of the most respected journalistic institutions in the world,” Weinstein said. “I look forward to supporting the talented team behind its reporting and to stewarding public trust in this critical institution.”
CBS News has not previously had an ombudsman, though similar roles have existed at other national news organizations, including NPR, the New York Times, NBC News and the Washington Post.
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