Paramount Global

California
Media and Entertainment

Corprate Bias Ratings

Risk Level:

Rating - Danger
High Risk

Paramount Global (since 2022, formerly ViacomCBS), the parent network of Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon, CBS, and more, vets vendors according to LGBTQ policies and does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees. However, it has not publicly terminated business relationships based on views or beliefs. The company frequently uses its reputation to speak on political matters, promoted LGBTQ content to kids, and partnered with the NAACP to promote activists. Paramount Global funded Amnesty International and has donated $5 million to social justice organizations. The company is a corporate partner of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) and discriminates against some religious organizations in its charitable giving. Paramount Global donated to the Equality PAC and has lobbied for ideological purposes. For these reasons, Paramount Global receives a High Risk rating.

Criteria
Risk Level
Rationale
Corporate Weaponization
Criteria

Has denied service to customers, suppliers, or vendors due to their political views or religious beliefs OR corporately boycotts, divests, or sanctions regions, people groups, or industries.

Risk Level
Rationale

Paramount Global has a written policy pledging to vet vendors for LGBTQ policies. Its Global Business Code of Conduct requires vendors to include sexual orientation and gender identity in its nondiscrimination policy (1). The company has not publicly fired customers, suppliers, or vendors based on political views or religious beliefs.

Criteria

Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.

Risk Level
Rationale

ViacomCBS’s charitable giving guidelines require that organizations abide by its nondiscrimination policy, including on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, thereby excluding some religious charities (1).

Criteria

Employment policies fail to protect against discrimination based on political affiliation/views and/or religion.

Risk Level
Rationale

Paramount Global does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (1).

Corporate Governance and Public Policy
Criteria

Uses corporate reputation to support ideological causes and/or organizations hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level
Rationale

As ViacomCBS, Paramount Global denounced state election integrity efforts to reform their own election processes after the pandemic (1). CBS announced a new reality tv show called “The Activist,” where activists will “compete in missions, media stunts, digital campaigns and community events” (2)(3). Another affiliate, Nickelodeon, has added pro-LGBTQ messaging to many of its kids’ shows (4)(5). ViacomCBS noted that they would “monitor” a 2019 fetal heartbeat law in Georgia and considered moving production from the state (6).

Criteria

Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level
Rationale

Paramount has a perfect score on the HRC’s 2022 Corporate Equality Index. This score indicates the company covers the cost of “medically necessary transition-related care” for its employees and their children (1)(2). In 2020, ViacomCBS donated $5 million to several different social justice organizations, including Amnesty International and National Bail Out (3). Paramount and ViacomCBS are corporate partners of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) (4).

Criteria

Uses corporate political contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.

Risk Level
Rationale

Paramount Global donated to the Equality PAC and lobbied for the “George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020” (1)(2)(3).

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
December 5, 2023

Company reports are intended for educational use only. Full Disclaimer

Voting History

Date
ESG Category
Proponent
Summary of ResolutionMgmt RecTotal Vote % in Favor
5/8/23GovernanceNot DisclosedBoard Chair Is an Independent DirectorAgainst2.90%
5/8/23SocialN/A - UndisclosedReport on Political SpendingAgainst0.00%
6/8/22GovernanceN/A - UndisclosedSpecial Meetings - Reduce Ownership Req. to 25%Against5.04%
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