One longtime reporter for “60 Minutes” expresses hope that the exit of the program’s leading producer might prompt the owners of CBS News to restore the show’s autonomy.
Lesley Stahl, who’s been with “60 Minutes” for 35 seasons and CBS News since 1971, expressed deep sadness upon the departure of Bill Owens, one of only three executive producers in the long-running news program’s history. In an interview with EbMaster on Tuesday, she stated that Owens embodied all the qualities one could hope for in a superior.
Since 2019, Owens has been at the helm of the program. In a meeting held on Tuesday, he announced his decision to depart from the show and CBS News, attributing his departure to an escalating inability to exercise independent judgment that aligns with what’s best for ’60 Minutes’ and its audience.
CBS News’ parent company, Paramount Global, is actively seeking a sale to Skydance Media, but this process has allegedly been made more complex due to a lawsuit filed by former President Donald Trump against CBS News and “60 Minutes”. The lawsuit claims that the show deceptively edited comments made during an interview with Kamala Harris, who was running against Trump at the time. However, CBS attempted to have the case dismissed, and several legal experts believe it has weak legal foundations.
In a memo sent out on Tuesday, Wendy McMahon, responsible for CBS News, stations, and syndication, assured that the executives at CBS are fully dedicated to maintaining the integrity of ’60 Minutes’ and focusing on their goals. She has already initiated discussions with correspondents and top-level leaders, and these talks will carry on in the coming days and weeks.
Based on insider sources, it appears Paramount had installed external monitors for the show’s operations, which could potentially compromise the newsmagazine’s autonomy. Stahl, expressing his concerns, stated, “I have been informed about meddling in our news operations, casting doubt on our decision-making abilities.” He further added, “Such actions are not what companies that oversee news outlets should be doing.
According to Stahl, Owens deeply disliked the intrusion. “We want this message to reach our superiors,” he adds, emphasizing the importance of maintaining CBS News’ reputation. This reputation is a significant aspect of what makes CBS News valuable. It embodies the essence of ’60 Minutes’, and we cannot afford to compromise it. We have already lost one superior due to this, and it feels devastating.
Owens didn’t like being interfered with, and Stahl says they need to keep CBS News’ good reputation because that’s a big part of what makes the news valuable. They can’t let it go; they’ve already lost one superior due to this, and it’s very disappointing.
For quite some time now, Stahl has consistently shown a strong inclination towards advocating for the program. In March, during an acceptance speech for an industry accolade, Stahl stated that “60 Minutes” was in a challenging situation and needed to be defended. One of the producers at the news magazine who has collaborated extensively with Stahl over the years once referred to her as a ‘tough-as-nails grandmother.’
According to reports, Stahl indicated that Owens urged the team to remain committed to the show and ensure its continued existence. It’s anticipated that Tanya Simon, currently serving as executive editor, will temporarily lead the news magazine. She is viewed as a strong contender to eventually replace Owens, according to sources close to the program. For the remainder of the season, there are no plans to alter the stories the show intended to broadcast, one source revealed.
As a devoted cinemagoer, I’m excited to share some inside news! CBS News announced on Tuesday that they plan to appoint a fresh internal leader, and according to Stahl, this individual is none other than an exceptional journalist – a remarkable newswoman within their ranks.
She hopes that Bill’s act, which Scott Pelley referred to as a sacrifice, will strike a chord and lead to change.
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2025-04-23 01:20