Overview

• Bill Owens resigned as executive producer of 60 Minutes, citing a loss of editorial independence due to increased content oversight by parent company Paramount Global.
• Paramount is pursuing regulatory approval for a merger with Skydance, which has intensified scrutiny on CBS News reporting, particularly controversial segments.
• The resignation follows a $20 billion lawsuit filed by Donald Trump over the editing of a Kamala Harris interview, with mediation now underway between legal teams.
• CBS appointed Susan Zirinsky earlier this year to review news standards following shareholder complaints about a segment on the Israel-Hamas war.
• Observers suggest potential settlement discussions with Trump could be linked to Paramount's efforts to secure merger approval.