The moves come amid ongoing friction between PBS and Republican leaders of the private Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which disperses the network's federal funds. CPB Chair Kenneth Tomlinson has recently led a charge to add more conservative programming on the network, saying that it has a liberal reputation.

While PBS had contemplated the creation of an ombudsman's position for more than six months, its decision Tuesday comes after the CPB appointed its own two ombudsmen this spring to evaluate public television and radio content. Those hires caught PBS officials off guard.

Jacoba Atlas, PBS' senior vice president for programming, said the network wants to create a better conduit for feedback.

''I think what an ombudsman will do is eliminate any perception that anyone might have that we don't respond to criticism,'' she said.

The PBS Board on Tuesday also updated editorial standards.

In addition to mandating neutrality, the new guidelines instruct journalists to enter into inquiries with an open mind and provide viewers with a sense of transparency about their news-gathering methods and sources.

The new standards also require opinion pieces to be clearly identified.