60 Minutes Criticizes Paramount Over Editorial Control Amid Producer Resignation

CBS's '60 Minutes' publicly criticized its parent company, Paramount Global, after longtime executive producer Bill Owens resigned, citing concerns over increasing corporate supervision and loss of editorial independence. On air, host Scott Pelley explained that while no stories had been blocked, new layers of oversight were introduced as Paramount sought approval for a merger with Skydance Media and faced a federal lawsuit from Donald Trump over a 2024 interview segment. Owens, who had led the show for decades, stated he could no longer make independent decisions, a sentiment echoed by other producers and correspondents alarmed by what they viewed as growing interference in newsroom operations. The changes included the appointment of new editorial overseers and increased vetting of stories, which many at '60 Minutes' felt disrupted the program's tradition of journalistic autonomy. The public rebuke highlights tensions between newsroom independence and corporate interests during a period of legal and financial pressure for Paramount. Reactions from staff emphasized the importance of editorial freedom as central to the show's credibility and legacy.