Network has long faced scrutiny over left-wing bias in its coverage
Kenneth Weinstein, the former president and CEO of the conservative-leaning Hudson Institute, will serve as CBS News’s ombudsman, investigating any complaints about bias from employees and viewers, the network reported Monday.
“We look forward to welcoming Ken as our new Ombudsman,” Paramount president Jeff Shell said in a statement to CBS. “At a time when trust in media is more important than ever, this new role reinforces our commitment to truth, trust, and accountability. 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,” Shell’s statement adds. Weinstein served as the Hudson Institute’s president and CEO from 2011 until 2020 and is currently the Japan chair at the conservative think tank.
Weinstein’s duties as ombudsman include “reviewing concerns raised by employees and viewers, addressing questions about news coverage, and upholding the organization’s longstanding commitment to accuracy and accountability,” the company told the Hollywood Reporter.
Skydance, which completed its acquisition of Paramount last month, agreed to appoint an ombudsman at CBS for at least two years to “evaluate complaints of bias or other concerns” as part of a deal to secure the Federal Communications Commission’s approval of the merger. Skydance has also confirmed the “elimination” of all diversity, equity, and inclusion policies and initiatives at Paramount.
CBS has long faced accusations of left-wing bias in its coverage. In July, the network and Paramount agreed to pay $16 million to settle President Donald Trump’s lawsuit alleging that 60 Minutes, CBS’s flagship news program, deceptively edited footage to make Kamala Harris appear more coherent and boost her presidential campaign.
CBS has recently also come under fire over its anti-Israel bias, in particular for a January 60 Minutes segment that criticized Israel’s war against Hamas terrorists and relied on sources affiliated with the Council on American-Islamic Relations, whose executive director has openly praised Hamas.
Weinstein has a history of critiquing CBS’s biases. Last year, he openly criticized the network after CBS executives accused anchor Tony Dokoupil of violating the network’s “editorial standards” by asking tough questions of anti-Semitic author Ta-Nehisi Coates.
“Could the presence of one righteous man @tonydokoupil save @CBSNews from utter condemnation?” Weinstein wrote at the time.
Kenneth R. Weinstein, announced today as CBS News ombudsman, appears to have deleted his X account. Here is a post I recovered from last year related to CBS News coverage: pic.twitter.com/UmvZ36612W
— Michael M. Grynbaum (@grynbaum) September 8, 2025
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