Stephen Colbert Appoints a News Ombudsman

Last week, late night TV talk show host, Stephen Colbert introduced an Ombudsman for his show. This was in response to Paramount's announcement of a Ombudsman for CBS News and Jimmy Kimmel's suspension by ABC. “Apparently, having a conservative overseeing your programming is a way to stay on the air, and I would love to be able to finish out the last season of my show,” Colbert said.

Ombudsman Wins Prince of Wales's Stakes

On June 18, 2025, Jockey William Buick urged Godolphin’s, Ombudsman, to win the £1 million Prince of Wales’s Stakes on the turf at Royal Ascot in England. The 7-1 colt, a "devastating winner," earned an automatic berth into the Longines Breeders' Cup at Del Mar in California in November 2025. (YouTube.) 

Cummings Reveals Inspiration for Ombuds TV Show

In an interview with The Daily Beast, Whitney Cummings explained the inspiration for her new Amazon series, "Good People" The show is co-produced and co-written by Lee Daniels. Lisa Kudrow will also star and be a co-executive produce. According to IMDB, the show is now in post-production.

Update: New Details Emerge About Ombuds TV Show

Several media outlets are reporting fresh details about the in-production comedy about a university Ombuds co-created and co-written by Whitney Cummings and Lee Daniels. The project now has a name, "Good People," and Lisa Kudrow has signed on to star and be a co-executive producer. There are also more details about the project from the Hollywood Reporter:

Update: Amazon to Produce TV Show About a College Ombuds

Deadline Hollywood is reporting that Amazon Studios will produce a half-hour TV show centered on the work of a college Ombuds. The comedy will be co-created and co-written by Whitney Cummings (2 Broke Girls) and Lee Daniels (Empire). Cummings will star.

Executive Order Dramatically Alters Work of Federal Ombuds

Most Ombuds and federal sector experts did not anticipate this latest directive from the Trump White House...

Job Posting: Oakland Cannabis Dispensary

California's premier medical cannabis (but unnamed) dispensary is hiring an Ombuds Associate. According to a Craigslist posting, the position will, "Assist patients with orientation and or registration; manage phone line and patient intake. Provide information on policies and procedures and general information about cannabis laws and regulations as they apply. Act as a resource to assist patients with questions, concerns, special needs and activism activities." 

Ombuds Term Paper for Sale

TermpaperWarehouse is offering an essay titled, "Corporate Ombudsman." It was submitted by a user named Kwalters on January 29. Price available only to registered users. 

IOA Stands for More Than You Might Think

According to Wikipedia, the International Ombudsman Association is the primary definition of IOA. However the acronym also stands for:

Dilbert Update: Former UMass Ombuds Responds

An editorial by Alan Lincoln, the former Ombud for UMass and founding editor of the Journal of IOA, thanked cartoonist Scott Adams for bringing attention to the important work of Ombuds, but sought to clarify misperceptions.

Dilbert: The New Ombudsman

Um...thanks?

Update 2/19/20: Blogger Diane Levin offers her take on whether Dilbert's lampoon of Ombuds is a harbinger at The Mediation Channel.

Secretary-General Meets UN Ombuds

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (right) poses for a picture with John Barkat, United Nations Ombudsman, at a reception hosted by Mr. Barkat to welcome new mediation staff to his Office. (UN Photo.) Apparently, the new staff had to resort to photobombing.

Related posts: Barkat Appointed U.N. Ombuds; UN Ombuds Reports on Activities Amid Concerns Over Progress on Reformed Justice System.

Update: Colbert Accepts Olympics Oval Ombuds Offer

Stephen Colbert, the satirical late night comedy talk show host, has accepted an offer to attend the Winter Olympics as an Ombuds for US speed skaters. Earlier this month, Colbert, who is financially supporting the US Olympic Speed Skating Team, accused Canadians of unfairly denying Americans practice time at the Richmond Olympic Oval. In response, the City of Richmond offered to appoint Colbert as an official Ombuds, complete with a costume: "a lovely Richmond Olympic Oval pink toque." Thursday, Colbert said yes. "I have no idea what an ombudsman is, but as long as it requires no effort from me, I proudly accept," he told viewers. He declined, however, to wear the toque. (CBC Sports.)

Prior post: Stephen Colbert Offered Position as Olympic Ombudsman.

Stephen Colbert Offered Position as Olympic Ombudsman

The host of the Colbert Report, who is financially supporting the US Olympic Speed Skating Team and who has accused Canadians of unfairly denying Americans practice time at the Richmond Olympic Oval, has been invited to attend the Winter Games and monitor the treatment of Americans. The City of Richmond has offered to appoint Colbert as an official Ombuds. According to a letter from the city, "We've even created a special uniform for the new Ombudsman's position, consisting of a lovely Richmond Olympic Oval pink toque, which we think would make Mr. Colbert look very officious." (Press Release; National Post.)

Pictured: Your correspondent, not Colbert.

Obama Correctly Pronouces "Ombudsman"

During Tuesday night's Press Conference, President Obama teased a member of the press corps who tried to follow up on a colleague's unanswered question. Obama asked Jake Tapper of ABC News: “Are you the ombudsman for the White House press corps?” Ombuds around the country walked a little taller the next day. (White House Press Office Transcript; LA Times; Hat tip: JZ.)

Related post: Obama and the Future of the ADR Profession; Federal Observers Hope for New Era of Government Openness and Accountability.

Facebook Group Parodies Ombuds

An new group on Facebook spoofs Ombuds and on-line dispute resolution programs. Here are highlights of the Facebook Ombudsman Service:

• It’s our job to help settle individual disputes between various annoyed parties who are at high risk of poking each other into oblivion or something much worse that cannot be spoken of on this page especially if your mental age means that you cannot watch movies like Pirates of the Caribbean.
• We can consider complaints about a wide range of subjects from excessive poking to dealing with those annoying taggers. Each year we deal with half a million enquiries and settle 100,000,000 disputes.
• Don't expect us to be independent or impartial – we're up for sale to the highest bidder.
• We are not a regulator ("watchdog") or a trade body or a consumer champion. Our role is to stick our oar in, play devil's advocate and hopefully finish up with a completely unfair ruling. We believe that it would just be pansy to give both sides a 'fair hearing', I mean where's the fun in that, eh?
• We can often resolve disputes informally, but some cases are more complex and take more time. On average, we settle most disputes within six to nine years. If we are feeling particularly lax...ahem, sorry... if we are particularly busy it could take up to twenty years.
• Facebook users do have to accept any decision we make. We are judge and jury - so there! All decisions are binding both on them and on everyone affected. No seriously now... our decisions are not binding upon any of the parties involved, however, if you choose not to abide by them we will send around the heavies...
• Our service is confidential - we do not publish the names of the complainants whose complaints we handle.... unless they are particularly juicy in which case, we will forward all details to everyone on our friends list.

The unofficial group already has 139 members. (Facebook Ombudsman Service.)

Montreal Irony

As Ombuds finished their five-day conference and prepared to return to their organizations ready to make peace and provide resolution, Montreal was being inundated by fans of mixed martial arts for a UFC twin match. (Globe and Mail.)

It's pretty easy to tell the two groups apart.

Related post: Also in St. Louis This Week...

International Ombudsman Institute and the Republican National Committee Call Off Merger

Talking Points Memo reports that the IOI and RNC have called off efforts to combine operations, citing philosophical differences and an inability to decide which group would get naming priority. Bill Angrick, president of the IOI said, "We were excited because we thought the RNC wanted to transform the party and give working and middle class Americans a voice." However, it is reported that Michael Steele, head of the RNC, lost interest when he learned IOI was actually an organization who stands up for the little people. After an impasse over naming, an IOI staffer suggested alternating the letters in organizations' acronyms (iRoNiC). Angrick decided this was a sign and ceased negotiations. (Talking Points Memo.)

Related post: IOI Newsletter Announces 2009 Conference in Sweden.

ICANN to Consider Update of Ombuds Program

At its next regular board of directors meeting, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers will consider “approving an Ombudsman Framework.” (ICANN Meetings.) One industry watcher, an otherwise apparently rational travel writer, suspects a conspiracy involving the “(illegal) ‘incumbent’ ” and urges nominations for the position of ICANN Ombuds. (ICANN Watch.)

Update 2/27/09: Frank Fowlie, the ICANN Ombuds, explains that the organization is the simply ratifying operational policy and procedures for his office. (ICANN Ombuds Blog.)

Related posts: ICANN Ombuds Launches Blog; ICANN Ombuds Responds to Criticism; ICANN Ombuds Earns Doctorate.

What the Heck is the U.S. Office of the Independent Ombudsman?

This month saw the debut of a curious website for the U.S. Office of the Independent Ombudsman. According to the site, "The OIO comprises of a trusted team of advocates and business advisors providing the highest degree of professional service in resolving complaints, disputes and procedural issues." It offers the following services: Hotline; Research & Investigations; Alternative Dispute Resolution; Mediations; Compliance Issues; and Advocacy. It claims to be a member of USOA, TOA, and IOA. In addition it claims as members many state and local government agencies (including the Texas Youth Commission, Austin ISD, and the University of Texas at Austin), federal government agencies (including the VA, TSA, DOD, and EPA), and corporate entities (PBS/NPR, BP America, IBM, Microsoft, and Neiman Marcus). (USOIO Home.) None of these memberships or members could be confirmed. Moreover, the telephone number provided is not in service.

Other evidence casts doubt on the legitimacy of OIO. Its logo is the coat of arms for Poland. Although located in Texas, the entity is not registered with the Texas Secretary of State. OIO's website says that it is "a division of Mansour Mubaarak & Hogue LLP," a Houston research, management consulting and advocacy firm. Mansour Mubaarak has the same phone number and is the registered owner of the OIO web domain. In addition, Mansour Mubaarak is "an affiliate of Da Vinci & Lombardi SA," a merchant banking and consulting firm with offices in Paris, New York and Houston. (Mansour Mubaarak & Hogue; Da Vinci & Lombardi; Whois Results; Wikipedia - Poland Coat of Arms.)

So, what the heck is the U.S. Office of the Independent Ombudsman? The best explanation may be that it's just a front company. But why? (See Wikipedia - Front Organization; Boing Boing - Donna Blue Aircraft.)