“60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Pelley paid tribute Sunday to Bill Owens, the present’s govt producer who resigned final week, saying on the air that “none of us is joyful” concerning the additional supervision that company leaders are imposing.
Pelley made his feedback on the finish of the night’s CBS News telecast, saying that in quitting, Owens proved he was the proper 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 type of interior turmoil that viewers seldom get the chance to see.
Owens, solely the third high govt 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 previously, and felt essential.
CBS Information’ father or mother firm, Paramount World, 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” consider they did nothing flawed and have opposed a settlement.
An additional have 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 have 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 joyful about it. However in resigning, Invoice proved he was the proper particular person to steer ‘60 Minutes’ all alongside.”
Regardless of this, “60 Minutes” has executed robust tales concerning 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 most recent, 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 giant worth” for going after him.
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David Bauder writes about media for the AP. Observe him at http://x.com/dbauder and https://bsky.app/profile/dbauder.bsky.social
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