In a rare on-air statement, 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley addressed the resignation of Bill Owens, the show’s executive producer, and the tension surrounding increased editorial oversight by Paramount Global. Pelley’s comments, made at the end of Sunday’s CBS News broadcast, provided an inside look at the challenges faced by the show’s team.
“None of us is happy about it,” Pelley said, referring to the added supervision that prompted Owens’ departure. “But in resigning, Bill proved he was the right person to lead 60 Minutes all along. It was hard on him and it was hard on us. But he did it for us — and you.”
Owens, the third executive producer in the 57-year history of 60 Minutes, stepped down last week, citing concerns about losing editorial independence under the new oversight structure imposed by Paramount Global. The company’s increased supervision comes amid the ongoing merger discussions with Skydance Media and a legal battle involving former President Donald Trump, who sued 60 Minutes for $20 billion over an edited interview with Kamala Harris.
As part of the restructuring, 60 Minutes stories are now being subjected to additional scrutiny before airing. Former CBS News president Susan Zirinsky, who has been appointed to oversee editorial standards, has reportedly been reviewing stories in advance. While Pelley emphasized that no stories have been blocked, he explained that Owens felt his ability to make independent editorial decisions was compromised.
“This is a difficult moment for us,” Pelley stated. “Bill felt he lost the independence that honest journalism requires. None of us is happy about it.”
Despite the internal turmoil, 60 Minutes has continued to produce hard-hitting reports, especially regarding the Trump administration. In recent weeks, the program has aired investigative stories on the administration’s policies, including one segment by correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi on the impact of cutbacks at the National Institutes of Health.
Trump, particularly agitated by 60 Minutes’ coverage, lashed out on social media, calling for CBS News to “pay a big price” for the critical reporting.
