Paramount-Skydance $8 billion merger approved by CBS News Ombudsman Plan

Paramount’s $8 billion merger with SkyDance was approved on Thursday, carrying out a major reform of the media landscape. However, CBS News’ internal – the top priority subsidiary, News, is concerned about plans to set up an ombudsman and eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies.

“When the new owner’s welcome gift is Hall Monitor, it’s not a cry of how the new ownership feels about the news department,” a CBS insider told Fox News Digital, requesting anonymity to avoid professional consequences.

Prior to the merger, Skydance has committed To dismantle Paramount’s DEI initiative and create the role of the ombudsman to address perceived biases in CBS News. The Ombudsman will act as an independent sort governor to investigate complaints about outlet reports and report directly to Skydance CEO David Ellison, president of the new company.

“I am writing to confirm the elimination of the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives that were being implemented at Paramount and to confirm our commitment to moving forward,” Skydance adviser Stephanie Kyoko McKinnon wrote to FCC Chair Brendan Kerr.

The former CBS anchor warns the network’s “end” and “honest” journalism.

In February, Paramount announced it would abandon DEI employment targets and remove DEI metrics from its compensation package. caused internal repulsion. Skydance’s letter reinforced the DEI-based employment and race- or gender-based benchmarks no longer used, instead highlighting benefits and broad talent pools.

Another CBS insider, anonymously, admitted that the ombudsman has been used in both internal and external complaints in the past. However, they warned that the impact of the new ombudsman will depend on the scope of the individual editorial institutions selected.

CBS has long embraced the DEI goal. “The Late Show” host Stephen Colbert confirmed in 2018 New York Times interview That he refused to accept writing samples from men in order to diversify his team.

I won 87 women until I said, “Please don’t send anyone other than women.” It’s not enough to say you want it.

CBS then announced its end “Late Show” The final episode for May 2026 has been set.

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After George Floyd’s death in 2020, CBS A policy has been established Half of the real-life programming contestants are Bipocs (black, indigenous, and people of color). CBS President George Cheek has requested that 40% of Primetime Show writers become BIPOC during the 2021-2022 season. The mentorship program was launched that year, with seven authors selected out of 1,000 applicants, but no white males.

“Our writer mentoring program will provide opportunities and help you build relationships with network executives and showrunners,” says Tiffany Smith Anoite, EVP of Entertainment Diversity and Inclusion at Viacomcbs. I was told at the deadline.

CBS News has long-standing accusations of liberal and anti-Trump bias. During the 2024 Vice President debate, host Margaret Brennan cut off Vice President J.D. Vance’s microphone during a fierce exchange of immigrants.

Before the 2020 election, “60 Minutes” anchor Leslie Stahl dismissed it, referring to the scandal surrounding Hunter Biden’s laptop. “It’s ’60 minutes’ and you can’t wear anything that can’t be verified,” Stahl said at the time.

CBS News later I’ve verified my laptop 2022.

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Trump later sued Paramount for a 2024 “60 Minutes” interview with then-President Kamala Harris, accusing him of omitting a garbled response to the Gaza War in the broadcast version. Paramount The lawsuit has been resolved $16 million earlier this month.

CBS did not immediately respond to requests for comment.