Reports

Subscribe to Ombudsman Reports

Aug 17, 2016
Semi-Annual Report to the Board
Pursuant to its charter, the Office of the Ombudsman of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) fosters “public dialogue aimed at achieving high standards of excellence in public broadcasting.” It reports regularly on matters of “objectivity, balance, fairness, accuracy and transparency” in... Continue Reading
Jun 29, 2016
When Money Walks, Words Just Talk
 Well-financed legal proceedings designed to knock out detracting journalists and news organizations could be particularly damaging to public media, as well as to non-profits and investigative staffs whose pockets in many cases are not that deep.
May 03, 2016
Doin’ a Do
 If you’re running for office, you say things to get men and women to choose you. You pander for votes. It’s what you do. Journalists also pander—for answers, for facts and for more information. It’s what we do, and listeners expect it.
Apr 20, 2016
Trumped?
For decades, government-supported public media have championed journalistic news neutrality rooted in objectivity and balance. Nowadays, however—especially in the coverage of politics, elections and governance—much of the subjectivity once considered opinion is presented as news. Point of view can... Continue Reading
Mar 14, 2016
Lax on the Facts
The after action reports on the Republican presidential debate in Detroit lamented new lows in presidential political discourse and decorum. That was one storyline; there was another. The next morning, the PBS NewsHour website dutifully offered a fact-check.
Dec 22, 2015
Four Words
Accuracy is an essential component of news journalism. News journalists are expected to report the facts as best they can in the most neutral language.
Nov 24, 2015
Dis, Dys, and That
Disagreement is at once a gift and a challenge in a democracy. How does a free press balance the two in a manner that minimizes the dysfunction that can occur when those who disagree become disagreeable and dysfunction creeps in?
Sep 30, 2015
Can We Talk?
 Little in the often disrespected, dangerous and ever more deadly world of news journalism adequately prepared us for what happened last month in Virginia. One of our own targeted two of our own. He shot and killed them on live television, fled the scene, and posted video of the killings online.
Aug 27, 2015
In the Fog of News
 Judy Woodruff didn't necessarily agree.