‘60 Minutes’ Executive Producer Resigns, Says Show has Lost Independence
The longtime executive producer of CBS’s 60 Minutes, Bill Owens, announced his resignation on Tuesday, claiming that the show’s independence has been compromised.
Owens, who has worked at CBS News for 37 years, revealed his decision during a staff meeting and in a memo, stating that he could no longer operate the show in the manner he believed was best for its mission and viewers.
“Over the past months, it has also become clear that I would not be allowed to run the show as I have always run it. To make independent decisions based on what was right for 60 Minutes, right for the audience,” Owens wrote in his note. “So, having defended this show- and what we stand for – from every angle, over time with everything I could, I am stepping aside so the show can move forward.”
According to NPR, two individuals present at the meeting said Owens had “lost independence from corporate.” 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley reportedly told attendees, “This isn’t something Bill is doing of his own volition: There was no choice in any of this.”
Owens’ resignation comes at a contentious time for CBS News and its parent company, Paramount. The company is dealing with a lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump over its coverage of former Vice President Kamala Harris during the election cycle. Trump alleges that CBS aired two different versions of Harris’ response regarding Israel and Gaza, one on CBS Face the Nation and a different version on 60 Minutes. Trump called the decision election interference, demanding the full transcript of the interview be released, which CBS ultimately did after Trump returned to office.
The personal lawsuit filed by Trump accuses CBS of engaging in “unlawful acts of election and voter interference through malicious, deceptive and substantial news distortion.”
Paramount, meanwhile, is seeking approval from federal regulators to move forward with a potential sale to Oracle founder Larry Ellison, a known ally of Trump. While Owens did not mention the lawsuit or the pending sale in his resignation note, Owens has reportedly told colleagues he would refuse to apologize to Trump.
