Skydance Lays Out DEI and Viewpoint Commitments to FCC
Skydance has no diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in place today and won't establish any, General Counsel Stephanie Kyoko McKinnon pledged to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. In a pair of letters dated Tuesday and posted Wednesday (docket 24-275), McKinnon…
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said Paramount Global under Skydance also would do "a comprehensive review" of CBS and "make any necessary changes" to comply with its public interest obligations. McKinnon said new Paramount management would "ensure the company's array of news and entertainment programming embodies a diversity of viewpoints across the political and ideological spectrum." She said Skydance remained committed to localism. New Paramount committed to employing for at least two years an ombudsman who would report to the president of New Paramount and would receive and evaluate complaints of bias at CBS, according to the letters. McKinnon said New Paramount would no longer set numerical goals related to job applicants' or employees' gender, race or ethnicity. She said it would not have any leadership or development programs limited by race, gender or other demographics, nor would it consider DEI objectives in compensation plans. McKinnon said New Paramount would no longer set minimum spend requirements for diverse suppliers. Carr has repeatedly said the agency won't approve acquisitions involving companies practicing "invidious forms of DEI discrimination" (see 2503210049).