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Resignation at '60 Minutes' Highlights Press Freedom Struggles Under Trump Administration

Bill Owens steps down as executive producer, citing corporate interference, as CBS faces legal and political pressures tied to Trump lawsuit and merger ambitions.

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Bill Owens, executive producer of 60 Minutes, is seen on Fourth Estate Stage during day two of Collision 2022 at Enercare Centre in Toronto, Canada, on June 22, 2022.
Still frames from Donald Trump’s interview with 60 Minutes correspondent Lesley Stahl on October, 25, 2020.
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Overview

  • Bill Owens, the long-serving executive producer of '60 Minutes,' resigned this week, citing a loss of editorial independence due to corporate oversight changes at CBS News.
  • Owens' departure follows Paramount's efforts to settle a $20 billion lawsuit filed by Donald Trump, who alleges deceptive editing of a Kamala Harris interview during the 2024 election.
  • CBS insiders report no significant alterations to '60 Minutes' stories despite increased scrutiny, with Tanya Simon stepping in as interim leader and a likely candidate for permanent appointment.
  • Paramount's controlling shareholder, Shari Redstone, seeks Trump administration approval for a merger with Skydance Media, raising concerns about corporate influence on journalistic integrity.
  • The White House continues to face legal challenges over press pool restrictions, with a federal judge recently denying the Associated Press' motion to enforce reinstatement after its ban in February.