'60 Minutes' Reporter Speaks Out: Team Unhappy With Changes Leading to Top Producer's Departure

Scott Pelley, a correspondent for '60 Minutes,' honored Bill Owens, the program’s executive producer, during his segment on Sunday. who resigned last week stating publicly that "all of us are unhappy" regarding the additional oversight being enforced by the higher-ups at the corporation.

At the conclusion of the CBS News broadcast for the night, Pelley commented that by stepping down, Owens demonstrated he was indeed the appropriate individual for the position.

It was tough on him and it was tough on us," Pelley stated. "However, he did it for us — and for you.

His public comment provided a rare glimpse into the kind of internal strife that audiences rarely have the chance to observe.

Owens, who was just the third person to hold such a senior position in the 57-year history of what many consider television’s most impactful news broadcast, stepped down last week. He stated that he no longer believed he could maintain his independence to manage the show as he had previously done, which he deemed essential.

CBS News' parent company, Paramount Global, is in the midst of a merger with Skydance Media that needs the approval of the Trump administration. Trump has sued “60 Minutes” For $20 billion, it was claimed that they unjustly altered a Kamala Harris interview from the previous autumn to make it more favorable for her. Owens and several individuals associated with "60 Minutes" think they made no errors and have been against reaching a settlement.

A sneak peek at "60 Minutes" segments prior to their broadcast

Consequently, Pelley informed the audience on Sunday that Paramount has started overseeing "60 Minutes" segments using fresh methods. It is said that former CBS News President Susan Zirinsky, an experienced news producer, has been tasked with reviewing the program’s episodes prior to their broadcast.

“None of our stories has been blocked,” Pelley said. “But Bill felt he lost the independence that honest journalism requires. No one here is happy about it. But in resigning, Bill proved he was the right person to lead ‘60 Minutes’ all along."

Even so, "60 Minutes" has managed to do challenging narratives regarding the Trump administration Since the inauguration in January, nearly every week has featured similar reports, often covered by Pelley. This past Sunday, "60 Minutes" correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi provided an update with her interview of scientists discussing reductions at the National Institutes of Health.

Trump was notably upset about the program's broadcast two weeks prior, stating on social media that CBS News ought to “pay a big price” for going after him.

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David Bauder covers media for the Associated Press. You can follow him at http://x.com/dbauder and https://bsky.app/profile/dbauder.bsky.social