“60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Pelley paid tribute Sunday to Invoice Owens, the present’s government producer who resigned last week, saying on the air that “none of us is comfortable” in regards to the further supervision that company leaders are imposing.
Pelley made his feedback on the finish of the night’s CBS Information telecast, saying that in quitting, Owens proved he was the correct particular person for the job.
“It was laborious on him and it was laborious on us,” Pelley mentioned. “However he did it for us — and also you.”
His on-air assertion was an uncommon peek behind the scenes on the kind of inside turmoil that viewers seldom get the chance to see.
Owens, solely the third high government within the 57-year historical past of tv’s most influential newscast, resigned final week, saying he not felt he had the independence to run this system as he had up to now, and felt crucial.
CBS Information’ mother or father firm, Paramount International, is within the midst of a merger with Skydance Media that wants the approval of the Trump administration. Trump has sued “60 Minutes” for $20 billion, saying it unfairly edited a Kamala Harris interview final fall to her benefit. Owens and others at “60 Minutes” imagine they did nothing mistaken and have opposed a settlement.
An additional take a look at “60 Minutes” tales earlier than they air
In consequence, Pelley defined to viewers on Sunday, Paramount has begun to oversee “60 Minutes” tales in new methods. Former CBS Information President Susan Zirinsky, a longtime information producer, has reportedly been requested to take a look at the present’s tales earlier than they air.
“None of our tales has been blocked,” Pelley mentioned. “However Invoice felt he misplaced the independence that sincere journalism requires. Nobody right here is comfortable about it. However in resigning, Invoice proved he was the correct particular person to guide ‘60 Minutes’ all alongside.”
Regardless of this, “60 Minutes” has carried out tough stories about the Trump administration nearly each week for the reason that inauguration in January, a lot of them reported by Pelley. On Sunday, “60 Minutes” correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi had the newest, interviewing scientists about cutbacks on the Nationwide Institutes for Well being.
Trump was notably angered by the present’s telecast two weeks in the past, saying on social media that CBS Information ought to “pay a big price” for going after him.
David Bauder writes about media for the AP. Observe him at http://x.com/dbauder and https://bsky.app/profile/dbauder.bsky.social
