Skydance, the winning bidder for Paramount, declares an end to DEI policies and plans to establish an ombudsman for CBS News.
In a significant move, Skydance, the company set to merge with Paramount, has pledged to appoint an independent ombudsman at CBS News to review complaints of editorial bias and concerns about news distortion. This ombudsman will serve for at least two years, reporting directly to the president of the new combined entity, New Paramount.
The commitment to the ombudsman was part of Skydance's filings with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which has regulatory oversight of the merger and must approve the transfer of licenses.
Alongside this, Skydance has announced plans to eliminate all diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at the media conglomerate. This move was driven by political pressure and regulatory concerns, as DEI initiatives had become a point of contention with FCC Chairman Brendan Carr—appointed by former President Donald Trump—who criticized DEI policies as discriminatory.
These decisions are closely tied to recent political controversies at CBS News. The network came under intense scrutiny after allegations by Donald Trump and his allies that "60 Minutes" deceptively edited an interview with Kamala Harris during the 2024 election. CBS denied the accusations but ultimately settled Trump's lawsuit for $16 million.
The ombudsman appointment and DEI program elimination have received mixed reactions. FCC Chairman Carr publicly supported these changes, stating they would help CBS operate in the public interest and eliminate what he called "invidious forms of DEI discrimination."
Conservative critics and political allies have framed these moves as necessary reforms for editorial impartiality. However, some public figures, such as Stephen Colbert, have criticized these moves, interpreting regulatory pressure as politically motivated. Colbert called the settlement a "big fat bribe," and shortly thereafter, his show was canceled—a decision official sources attribute to financial considerations unrelated to politics.
The formal closing of the Skydance-Paramount merger is expected on August 7, 2025, with these commitments integral to FCC approval and regulatory oversight of the combined media entity.
In a meeting with FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel, Skydance CEO David Ellison emphasized his "commitment to unbiased journalism" and pledged to ensure that its programming embodies a diversity of viewpoints. These measures represent a significant reshaping of CBS News editorial oversight as part of broader regulatory and political pressures surrounding the Skydance-Paramount merger.
The FCC is currently investigating Comcast, the parent company of NBC News, and Disney, the parent company of ABC News, over their DEI practices. This investigation adds to the political and regulatory scrutiny facing the media industry, with a focus on ensuring editorial independence and fairness in news reporting.
- The appointment of an independent ombudsman at CBS News, aimed at addressing concerns about news distortion and editorial bias, is part of Skydance's commitments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), with the goal of operating in the public interest and maintaining unbiased journalism.
- In a broader context, the Skydance-Paramount merger is subject to regulatory and political pressures, leading to the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at the media conglomerate, a move that has sparked both support from conservative critics and condemnation from some public figures.
- Beyond Skydance and Paramount, the FCC is also investigating Comcast, the parent company of NBC News, and Disney, the parent company of ABC News, over their DEI practices, as part of a growing focus on ensuring editorial independence and fairness in news reporting across the media industry.
