Scott Pelley Defends Owens’ Resignation Amid Changes At Cbs’ ‘60 Minutes’

[Craig Nigrelli]

“60 Minutes” analogous Scott Pelley gave a uncommon down nan scenes look astatine nan soul turmoil gripping CBS aft nan departure of its apical shaper Bill Owens past week. Pelley commented connected Owens’ exit astatine nan extremity of nan Sunday, April 27 section of “60 Minutes.”

Owens said successful a memo to each staff, arsenic first reported by The New York Times, that he resigned owed to a nonaccomplishment of independency successful decision-making for nan show. The move came arsenic Paramount is successful nan midst of a $20 cardinal suit from President Donald Trump, wherever he accused CBS of deceptively editing an question and reply of erstwhile Vice President Kamala Harris during nan 2024 statesmanlike campaign. 

Paramount is reportedly successful talks pinch Trump to settee nan lawsuit, an thought opposed by Owens and others wrong nan programme who person denied immoderate wrongdoing. Paramount, however, remains successful a reliable position, arsenic it seeks support from Trump’s FTC to complete a merger pinch Skydance Media. 

During his remarks connected April 27, Pelley revealed “60 Minutes” changed its reappraisal process for reports.

A erstwhile CBS News President was reportedly tasked pinch looking complete nan program’s stories earlier they deed nan air.

Pelley said “None of our stories has been blocked.”

But Pelley added that “Bill felt he mislaid nan independency that honorable publicity requires. No 1 is happy astir it. But successful resigning, Bill proved he was nan correct personification to lead ‘60 Minutes’ each along.” 

Paramount and CBS person yet to respond to Pelley’s remarks.