The manufacturer of a famous US show resigns because it has lost its independence. Pressure from Donald Trump and Paramount
Bill Owens, the executive producer of “60 minutes” from CBS News, announced on Tuesday that he resigns from the Longevive news show on Sunday because he has lost his journalistic independence, reports The New York Times, who claims that the show was increasingly pressured by President Donald Trump and Paramount.
Owens, only the third person who runs the show in the 57 years since its appearance, informed his staff that, “in recent months, it has become clear that I will not be allowed to lead the show as I always drove it, to make independent decisions based on what was correct for” 60 minutes “, correct for the public.”
“So, after defending this show-and what we represent-from all points of view, over time, with everything I could, I set aside so that the show could go further,” he wrote in that note, obtained by The New York Times.
Trump has asked for compensation of 10 billion euros
In recent months, the show “60 minutes” has been confronted with more pressure from Paramount, the parent company of CBS News, and President Donald Trump. The Republican gave the television station in court and asked for compensation of 10 billion euros, accusing the show of “illegal behavior”.
The majority shareholder of Paramount, Shari Redstone, wants to obtain the approval of the Trump Administration for the billions of dollars to sell the company to Skydance, a company run by billionaire Larry Ellison.
She expressed her desire to solve Trump's case, which demanded how an interview with Kamala Harris from “60 minutes” from October was published, when Democrat held the position of US vice-president and was his opponent in the presidential race.
Legal experts believe that the process is unfounded, and Bill Owens said in February that he will not apologize if a possible understanding is reached. Many journalists from CBS News believe that an agreement would be equivalent to a capitulation in front of Trump because of what they consider to be standard dissatisfaction with the post -editorial policy.
In Tuesday's note, Owens promised that the show “” 60 minutes “will continue to relate about the new administration, as we will report on future administrations.”
“The show is too important for the country. It has to continue, except not with me as an executive producer,” he continued.
Bill Owens worked for the first time in CBS News in 1988, as a trainee, and became an executive producer of the show “60 minutes” in 2019.
Donald Trump often criticized “60 minutes”. In 2020, in the first term in the White House, the president interrupted an interview with Lesley Stahl, being dissatisfied with her questions. During the 2024 campaign he refused to be interviewed by the journalists of the show.
He accused “60 minutes” of “fraudulent reports” and asked for the CBS license to withdraw
On April 13, apparently irritated by that edition of the show, Trump accused “60 minutes” of “fraudulent reports”, in a post on social networks, and urged the relevant authorities to withdraw the CBS broadcast license.
“CBS is out of control, at unintended levels so far, and should pay a high price for it,” the US president said at that time.
The directors of Paramount and Skydance have taken note of the president's angry comments, say three people who know the internal discussions.
Between Paramount and Trump, discussions are underway for a possible understanding, and the two parties have chosen a mediator to help solve the case.
In recent months, the show “60 minutes” has been criticized even by Shari Redstone, who complained to CBS directors focused on the way he managed the Biden administration between Israel and Hamas. One day after the broadcast of that segment, a veteran producer of the post, Susan Zerinsky, was appointed in a new role of supervision of the journalistic standards of the News Division.
