Scott Pelley addressed the resignation of the show’s long-time producer Bill Owens, who left last week citing loss of editorial independence|CBS News|CC BY-SA 3.0
In a rare on-air moment, 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley voiced his thoughts regarding the departure of the show’s long-time producer Bill Owens, and told viewers that “none of us is happy” with the additional supervision that the parent company Paramount has imposed.
Pelley addressed Owens’s resignation who left last week reportedly due to loss of editorial independence.
The statement by Pelley comes when the news channel is handling a $20 billion lawsuit from President Donald Trump and a potential $8 billion merger with Skydance, which needs the Trump administration’s approval.
The president sued CBS in 2024, claiming it favorably edited a 60 Minutes interview of Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, intensifying scrutiny on the flagship news program. Paramount reportedly pushed for a quick settlement.
Pelley’s comments reflect how news organizations are combating corporate allyship with Trump while covering criticism of the current government.