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** OPINION
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** Paramount named an ombudsman to oversee CBS News. Who is he?
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(AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

One of the more intriguing conditions of Paramount’s sale to Skydance was this: Paramount would name an ombudsman to oversee CBS News.

The ombudsman would report to Paramount president Jeff Shell and, according to a letter to the Federal Communications Commission, the ombudsman “will receive and evaluate any complaints of bias or other concerns involving CBS.”

On the surface, an ombudsman should be a welcome addition to any network newsroom, which should be practicing fair and honest journalism free of bias.

But this particular announcement came off as a bit suspicious. It has been seen as a way to placate President Donald Trump, whose FCC had to sign off on the sale. And it all came in the midst of Trump suing Paramount and CBS News because he claimed the network altered an interview with then-Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris to help her with the 2024 election. Paramount ended up settling the suit with Trump, even though legal experts say Paramount would have prevailed at trial.

So you can understand that eyebrows, especially inside CBS News, were raised when there was an announcement of an ombudsman.

On Monday, Paramount revealed who the ombudsman would be: Kenneth R. Weinstein, the former president and chief executive of the conservative-leaning Hudson Institute think tank.

It has some wondering if Weinstein’s mission, based on his stint with the Hudson Institute, will be to pick through and question any CBS News stories that are critical of Trump and the right.

The Washington Post’s Jeremy Barr writes ([link removed]) , “In selecting Weinstein, the network chose a veteran policy hand who has been nominated by presidents of both parties for government posts. In 2013, President Barack Obama nominated him to serve on what was then called the Broadcasting Board of Governors, overseeing several government-funded news operations. Weinstein served as chairman of the body, which was renamed U.S. Agency for Global Media in 2018, from 2017 until 2020. Weinstein was nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as ambassador to Japan in March 2020, but his nomination lapsed, despite receiving unanimous support from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He served as president and chief executive of the Hudson Institute from 2011 to 2020.

Barr added, “Several people familiar with his work at the Broadcast Board of Governors portrayed Weinstein as a respectable steward of the government agency and a good choice for the CBS job. Shell and Weinstein served on the BBG board together from 2013 until 2017, when Weinstein took over for Shell as chair.”

But, Status’ Oliver Darcy referenced ([link removed]) a column that Weinstein wrote in July: “The EU Should Cooperate with Trump Instead of Sitting Out His Term.” ([link removed])

Weinstein started it by writing, “President Trump is the ultimate outsider — a bold businessman who asks uncomfortable questions that typical policymakers are too squeamish to ask.”

He later wrote, “European leaders may dislike Trump's methods, but they should appreciate his clarity about power dynamics.”

Darcy wrote, “Indeed, Weinstein’s late July column is hardly an isolated example of his pro-MAGA history. Federal disclosure records reveal he has donated thousands of dollars to Republican candidates, including Trump, Marco Rubio, Nikki Haley, and others. Notably, Trump himself tapped Weinstein in 2020 to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Japan, though Congress never confirmed him. The appointment alone signals that Weinstein is loyal to the president. But, more tellingly, as president of the conservative Hudson Institute, Weinstein has spent years championing right-wing causes, lavishing praise on Trump-friendly media figures, and railing against the ‘liberal media.’”

Darcy pointed out several more examples and wrote, “Of course, that is only a glimpse of Weinstein’s long record. Cataloguing every instance in which he has praised Trump or assailed the ‘media elites’ would take far more space than this column allows. But the pattern is unmistakable — and (Skydance CEO Larry) Ellison appointed him to the high-profile job surely knowing who he was hiring.”

This all would suggest that Weinstein, who is supposed to sniff out bias, comes in with a bias of his own.

How will the role of the ombudsman work?

According to a release from Paramount, “Under the newly established Ombudsman process, complaints from consumers, employees, and others will be directed to Weinstein, who will review each and, if he determines such complaint requires further action, will raise it 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 most high-profile reporting from CBS News can be found on the “CBS Evening News,” the legendary “60 Minutes,” “CBS Mornings” and Sunday morning’s “Face the Nation.”

In a statement, Shell said, “We look forward to welcoming Ken as our new Ombudsman. 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.”

In the same release, Weinstein said, “I am honored to serve as Ombudsman for CBS News, one of the most respected journalistic institutions in the world. I look forward to supporting the talented team behind its reporting and to stewarding public trust in this critical institution.”

A MESSAGE FROM POYNTER
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** Poynter’s 2025 Bowtie Ball: Join us Nov. 15
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Celebrate Poynter’s 50th anniversary at the 2025 Bowtie Ball, honoring Jane Pauley alongside Dean Baquet and G.B. “Garry” Trudeau. This signature evening brings together civic leaders, journalists and supporters to champion a free press. Secure your spot now for an unforgettable night of recognition and community in Tampa.

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** A question and a link
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My longtime friend and Poynter colleague Roy Peter Clark brought up a valid point when we talked about the new ombudsman role. Will the ombudsman concentrate solely on the work of CBS News? Or will he also look into the business side of Paramount, where there could be major conflicts of interest that could put pressure on how news is covered at CBS?

Meanwhile, Semafor’s Max Tani writes about CBS News and a curious new relationship: “Can Bari Weiss remake one of the oldest US news channels?” ([link removed])


** Like father, like son
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From left, Lachlan Murdoch, Rupert Murdoch and James Murdoch, shown here in 2016. (Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP, File)

The Rupert Murdoch “Succession”-like family fight has reached a conclusion. And in the end, it’s Rupert’s son, Lachlan, who will take control of the family’s media empire.

What does that mean? Well, The New York Times’ Jim Rutenberg and Jonathan Mahler wrote ([link removed]) , “The deal ensures that the empire’s various outlets, including Fox News, The New York Post and The Wall Street Journal, will remain conservative after his father Rupert’s death. It is valued at $3.3 billion, according to a person with knowledge of the negotiations.”

The multi-billion-dollar deal puts an end to a decadeslong battle to determine who will succeed Rupert, who is now 94. At times, it really did look like HBO’s “Succession.”

The Times wrote, “The deal comes months after Rupert and Lachlan’s audacious bid to unilaterally change the terms of the Murdoch family’s irrevocable trust and disenfranchise Lachlan’s oldest siblings, Prue, Liz and James. The bid initially failed in court, but ultimately brought the two sides to the negotiating table.”

In the end, this is what Rupert wanted: to have Lachlan keep the conservative bent to the Murdoch media empire. As it is, Lachlan has essentially been running the business for a few years.

The Times added, “In a sense, both sides are getting what they wanted, and can claim victory. Prue, Liz and James — who are all less conservative than Lachlan — were eager to break from a media empire whose politics they have often disagreed with, and to add another billion-plus dollars to the multibillion-dollar fortunes that they have already inherited from their father. And they are getting considerably more for their shares than Lachlan had been willing to pay in previous buyout discussions.”

The oldest three siblings are expected to receive about $1.1 billion for their shares.

The company, of course, put out a statement cheering the news, saying, “News Corp’s board of directors welcomes these developments and believes that the leadership, vision and management by the Company’s Chair, Lachlan Murdoch, will continue to be important to guiding the Company’s strategy and success.”

For more, check out The New York Times’ Emmett Lindner with “The Murdoch Succession Fight Is Over. So What Does Lachlan Control?” ([link removed])


** This story comes with art
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Remember that letter that Donald Trump supposedly sent to Jeffrey Epstein for a 2003 birthday book? The one where Trump allegedly drew the outline of a woman’s body? The one that Trump denied writing (or drawing)? The one he sued The Wall Street Journal over?

Well, on Monday, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee posted the letter, complete with the drawing and the signature of “Donald” that very much looks like Trump’s distinctive signature in a rather sensitive spot on the drawing.

Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., who is the committee’s Democratic ranking member, said, “President Trump called the Epstein investigation a hoax and claimed that his birthday note didn’t exist. Now we know that Donald Trump was lying and is doing everything he can to cover up the truth. Enough of the games and lies, release the full files now.”

Trump has continually denied authoring the letter.

The Wall Street Journal, meanwhile, published “A Visual Breakdown of the Trump Birthday Letter to Epstein.” ([link removed])

The Journal’s Khadeeja Safdar, Joe Palazzolo and Kara Dapena compare similarities between the letter and Trump’s signature to other Trump letters, drawings and official signatures.


** A spotlight on Spotlight
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Here’s an interesting media story. Semafor’s Max Tani reported ([link removed]) that The Boston Globe recently turned the spotlight on its own legendary Spotlight team.

Spotlight is the Globe’s investigative unit that is most famous for its reporting on sexual abuses of children inside the Catholic Church. Spotlight’s work won a Pulitzer Prize in 2003 and was later the basis of an Oscar-winning film starring Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo and Rachel McAdams that was called, appropriately enough, “Spotlight.”

Tani reports that the Globe investigated complaints against Brendan McCarthy, the editor of Spotlight. According to Tani’s story, at least two Globe journalists complained to human resources about how they were treated by McCarthy. Tani wrote, “McCarthy, according to the complaints, separately berated two Globe journalists over perceived editorial differences, they said, cursing at his team and at staff working on Spotlight-related projects. Four other people told Semafor that they had also been told about the alleged incidents. One employee claimed McCarthy punished employees who complained about his management by reducing their roles in journalistic projects.”

Ultimately, the Globe acknowledged that McCarthy was blunt, but had not crossed any lines of acceptable workplace conduct and “determined no further action was warranted.” A Globe spokesperson told Tani, “Our award-winning Spotlight team undertakes important and impactful work that is a large part of our commitment to providing readers with trusted news and information. We recognize the dedication and leadership that Spotlight Editor Brendan McCarthy contributes to this effort, and his track record as a respected colleague in the newsroom and industry speaks for itself.”

Tani wrote, “I’ve spoken to more than a dozen people in the Globe newsroom and some who have left in the last year, partially because nearly every person I spoke with insisted that I speak with multiple other people who would corroborate their side of the story. (One person gave me a list of 28.) The camps were more or less divided between people who think McCarthy crossed a line with staff in several instances, and others who see him as a top-tier editor with a passion for journalistic results and less patience for staff who fall short. (There’s some overlap in these categories.)”

Tani added, “It’s hard not to see in the decision to stand by McCarthy a conclusion that journalism’s rough, confrontational edges may simply require big, difficult personalities, in a cultural moment dominated by them. One staffer noted to me that if the McCarthy incident had ‘happened at Harvard, we’d be investigating it — but when it happens at the Globe, no one here cares.’ But the shift may be broader, as newsrooms both describe a cultural shift and, at least in some cases, embody it.”


** Don’t blame us
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In Monday’s newsletter, I mentioned how the United States Tennis Association asked broadcasters of the U.S. Open to censor reactions to President Donald Trump attending Sunday’s men’s final.

But the White House said it did not ask the USTA to put out that memo. When asked by ABC News, the White House said, “That’s not true. We did not ask anyone to censor.”

Meanwhile, there were reports from several outlets — including The Associated Press and The New York Times, not to mention actual video on social media — that said Trump was booed by the crowd in New York. Rolling Stone had a headline ([link removed]) that said Trump was booed “repeatedly.”

However, MSNBC’s Stephanie Ruhle retweeted a Rolling Stone tweet and wrote ([link removed]) , “I was there. I didn’t witness him getting booed & the delay wasn’t a big deal. The day was about great tennis. The President was there too.”

The match between Italy’s Jannik Sinner and Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz was delayed 45 minutes while fans waited through extra-long security lines because of Trump’s presence. Ruhle said that the delay “wasn’t a big deal.” Maybe she was talking about her experience getting in. But several tennis analysts, including the great Martina Navratilova, noted that such delays are actually a really big deal to players, whose preparation often relies on matches starting on time.


** Baba Booey!
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Howard Stern, shown here in 2018. (Michael Zorn/Invision/AP, File)

Leave it to Howard Stern to pull off a prank that even fooled respectable media outlets.

For weeks, there has been rampant speculation about whether or not Stern would return to his SiriusXM radio show. His contract is up and there was some buzz that maybe Stern’s long career in radio was finally coming to an end. That chatter grew even louder when Stern said he would address everything on his first show back from summer vacation — and then pushed back his return by a week.

On Monday morning at 7 a.m., when listeners expected to hear Stern’s voice, they instead heard Bravo’s Andy Cohen, who told them he was taking over the channel and calling it “Andy 100.”

But 10 minutes later, Stern came on and said it was all a joke. But, by that point, several media outlets had fallen for it. CNN’s Jordan Valinsky reported that CNBC, Variety and The Associated Press all published reports that Stern was leaving. The AP ran a correction on its Stern story ([link removed]) that said, “This story first was published on Sept. 8, 2025. It was updated on Sept. 8, 2025, to correct that Howard Stern is not leaving SiriusXM and an announcement of his departure was a prank.”

The stunt also impacted SiriusXM’s stock. Valinsky wrote, “The news briefly sent SiriusXM (SIRI) shares down nearly 2% in premarket trading, before rebounding.”

So what is happening with Stern?

Well, Stern, 71, told listeners that negotiations with executives have been “fantastic” and that he’s “very happy at Sirius.” He also mentioned that he pushed back his return from break because he was sick last week.


** Media tidbits
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* Nieman Lab’s Sarah Scire with “The New York Times launches a family subscription (with separate Wordles for everyone).” ([link removed])
* Variety’s Brian Steinberg with “‘Axios Show,’ Featuring One-on-One Newsmaker Interviews, Set to Debut.” ([link removed])
* The Washington Post’s Jon Swaine and Naomi Nix with “Meta suppressed research on child safety, employees say.” ([link removed])
* Some MSNBC news. Politico’s Jake Traylor and NBC News’ Nnamdi Egwuonwu are joining the network. Traylor, who has been a White House reporter, will be a political reporter for MSNBC. Egwuonwu was a breaking news reporter for NBC News. Here’s more ([link removed]) from TVNewser’s Mark Mwachiro.
* The Athletic’s sports media columnist Richard Deitsch writes about the opening weekend of the NFL in “Tom Brady’s season debut ‘comfortable,’ NBC’s Sunday night finish thrills.” ([link removed])
* Speaking of the NFL, football fans freaked out over the announcement that the RedZone Channel — which used to brag about being “seven hours of commercial-free football” while whipping around the slate of NFL games being played on Sundays — would no longer be commercial-free. RedZone insisted it wouldn’t be that bad and that fans would miss no action. I’m a RedZone addict and wasn’t bothered by the commercials. But judge for yourself. Here’s ([link removed]) what it looked like.


** Hot type
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* For Politico, Dan Brooks with “The Movie Trope that Explains Trump’s Political Dominance.” ([link removed])
* For The Atlantic, Seth Wickersham with “The Most Difficult Position in Sports.” ([link removed])


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