Bill Owens, the executive producer of 60 minutessaid on Tuesday that he is resigning from the program, telling the employees that he had lost his ability to make independent decisions concerning the show.
“In the past few months, it has also become clear that I would not be allowed to perform the show because I have always executed it,” wrote Owens in a memo obtained by Deadline. “Make independent decisions based on what was good 60 minutesJust for the public. So, after defending this show – and what we defend – from all angles, over time with everything I could, I retire so that the show can move forward. “”
“The show is too important for the country, it must continue, but not with me as an executive producer.”
THE New York Times first reported its release.
Owens’ departure comes in the midst of settlement talks between CBS and Donald Trump’s team on a trial that Trump brought by the way 60 minutes published an interview with Kamala Harris. Many legal observers call for the frivolous trial, but the mother company of CBS, a global paramount, needs the approval of the administration for its merger proposed with Skydance. A mediator has recently been selected to try to resolve the dispute, sources said.
In addition to 60 minutesOwens was also a producer supervisor of News from CBS EnirSupervising an overhaul of the night broadcast earlier this year which emphasizes the narration of the correspondents.
The news of his departure comes in the middle of anxiety in the news division, with a dismay on a potential regulation which would be largely considered to be the requirements of Trump. During a recent ceremony for the prize ceremony of the Radio Digital Television of news in Washington, DC, the longtime correspondent Lesley Stahl told those who had gathered that honor was particularly significant “when our precious first amendment felt vulnerable and when my precious 60 minutes Fights, very frankly for our life. “”
News magazine, still among the highest rated programs on the network, continued to produce harshly struck segments on the Trump administration during its first months. Last week, after the show ran out of segments on Ukraine and then Greenland, Trump again fallen on the show, calling its president of the FCC, Brendan Carr, to punish the network for the program. In addition to the trial, the FCC investigates the 60 minutes Edit, in response to a complaint from a conservative group, even if the previous FCC chairs have rejected diving requests into editorial decisions.
After Trump submitted the trial in October, CBS News rejected his legal team’s requests to submit a transcription not published by Harris’s interview, saying that the program had published a question to improve his chances during the election. The network presented the transcription at the end of January, after the FCC asked for it. The show said that the transcription and the images have shown ” 60 minutes The broadcast was not tampered with or misleading ”, and that changes were a standard practice in the industry. But Carr did not make a decision and rather sent the case for public comments.
After the reports have surfaced according to which CBS-Parent Paramount Global was in talks on the Trump trial regulations, Owens told employees, according to Times, “the company knows that I will not apologize for everything we have done.”
In her note today, Owens wrote that Wendy McMahon, president and chief executive officer of CBS News and Stations, “has always had her back, and she accepts that 60 minutes must be managed by a 60 minutes producer.”
In his own note, McMahon wrote: “As an executive producer, Bill directed 60 minutes With unshakable integrity, curiosity and deep commitment to the truth. He defended the type of journalism that informs, lights up and often changes the national conversation. His dedication to finding and feeding talents will be felt through CBS News for years. »»
She wrote that she and Tom Cibrowski, president and editor -in -chief of CBS News, “are determined to 60 minutes And to ensure that the mission and the work remain our priority. We have already started conversations with correspondents and senior leaders, and these will continue in the days and weeks to come. »»
Owens’ email is below:
The fact is that 60 minutes was my life. My son was 6 months old, my wife was pregnant with my daughter and my mother was in a coma when I spent 5 weeks on the battlefield in Iraq with Scott. My 60 -minute priorities have always been clear. Maybe not smart, but clear.
In recent months, it has also become clear that I would not be allowed to perform the show because I have always executed it. To make independent decisions depending on what was good for 60 minutes, just for the public. So, after defending this show and what we defend – from all angles, over time with everything I could, I retire so that the show can move forward.
The show is too important for the country, it must continue, but not with me as an executive producer. Remember that people did not think of surviving without Mike or Ed or Don or Jeff. We did it. You will be.
60 minutes will continue to cover the new administration because we will report on future administrations. We will report in war areas, investigate injustices and educate our audience. In short, 60 minutes will do what she has done for 57 years.
Wendy McMahon has always had their backs, and it should be managed by a 60 -minute producer. Tanya was an incredible partner, just like Claudia and Debbie, Matt Richman and Matt Polevoy. I am grateful to everyone.
Listen, I have been working at CBS News for 37 years, more than half of this at 60 minutes, I was killed and threatened with prison to protect a source. I supervised more than 600 stories as an executive producer of 60 years. I know who I am and what I did to cover the most important stories of our time in difficult conditions. I am also proud to have hired the next generation of correspondents and call Lesley, Bill, Anderson, Sharyn, Jon, Cecilia and Scott. Scott one of my closest.
Thank you all, stay focused on the moment, our audience deserves it.
Bill
McMahon’s email is below:
Hi everyone,
After 37 years, Bill Owens put an end to his illustrious career at CBS News, 25 of these years on the program of the most important news in America, 60 minutes. His note to the team is below.
As an executive producer, Bill led 60 minutes with unshakable integrity, curiosity and deep commitment to the truth. He defended the type of journalism that informs, lights up and often changes the national conversation. His dedication to finding and feeding talents will be felt through CBS News for years.
Bill will be with us in the coming weeks, there will therefore be time and the possibility of thanking Bill for his immeasurable contributions to CBS News, 60 minutes and the profession of journalism as a whole.
Tom and I are committed to 60 minutes and ensure that the mission and the work remain our priority. We have already started conversations with correspondents and senior leaders, and these will continue in the days and weeks to come.
On a personal note, working with Bill was one of the great privileges of my career. Stoping behind what he represented was an easy decision for me, and I never took for granted that he did the same for me.
Wendy
More to come.
