Paramount Creates CBS News Ombudsman, Launches Bias Review & Scraps DEI for FCC Approval; Commits $20M to Trump PSAs
Key Takeaways Skydance commits to 2-year CBS News ombudsman role reporting to Paramount’s president to evaluate bias complaints . Paramount eliminated all DEI programs in February 2025, removing diversity hiring goals and its Office of Global Inclusion . FCC Chairman Brendan Carr conditioned merger approval on DEI elimination, calling such programs “invidious discrimination” . $16M Trump lawsuit settlement preceded the FCC deal, with rumors of $20M more in PSA commitments . The Ombudsman Gambit Skydance lawyer Stephanie Kyoko McKinnon put it in writing July 22. An ombudsman will take complaints about CBS News. Report straight to New Paramount’s president. For two years minimum. This person judges “bias or other concerns.” McKinnon cited Comcast’s NBCUniversal deal as precedent. Said the FCC liked this setup before. Called it a “mechanism effective in preventing editorial bias.” Jeff Shell becomes New Paramount’s president. David Ellison sits as CEO. They want this merger done . DEI Dis...