’60 Minutes’ Correspondent Scott Pelley Accuses CBS of Corporate Overreach Amid Trump Lawsuit
In a rare act of defiance, “60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Pelley took to the airwaves on Sunday night, breaking the unwritten rule of silence on corporate interference in journalism.
During the final segment of the show, “The Last Minute,” Pelley addressed the resignation of executive producer Bill Owens—only to shift focus to a bold accusation that would send shockwaves through CBS’s newsroom.
Pelley, with his signature calm yet assertive tone, accused CBS’s parent company, Paramount Global, of increasing oversight in editorial decisions, potentially compromising the integrity of one of the most revered news programs in America.
The dispute, according to Pelley, is tied to Paramount’s pursuit of a merger with Skydance Media—an endeavor that requires approval from the Trump administration.
“This is bigger than just a resignation,” Pelley stated, revealing that Paramount’s heightened supervision began in response to the impending merger, which has sparked concerns about political influence.
He explained that although no stories had been outright blocked, the creeping corporate control had left “60 Minutes” journalists feeling increasingly uncomfortable.
“Bill felt he lost the independence that honest journalism requires. No one here is happy about it,” Pelley shared.
Owens, who had been with CBS News for decades, resigned earlier in the week, citing the interference as the breaking point.
In his resignation letter, Owens said that his ability to run the show independently had been undermined, adding that it was clear he could no longer make decisions that were in the best interest of “60 Minutes” and its audience, the Daily Mail reports.
The resignation and Pelley’s comments have created a stir among CBS staff, some of whom have voiced concerns about the growing corporate influence on journalistic practices.
Among them is “60 Minutes” correspondent Lesley Stahl, who publicly backed Owens and echoed his worries about interference.
Stahl told Variety that she had been made aware of such interference and criticized the corporate owners for questioning editorial judgment.
The corporate tension at CBS is not only linked to the merger but also to a looming $20 billion defamation lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump.
Trump alleges that “60 Minutes” manipulated a high-profile interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris to paint her in a more favorable light, accusing the network of bias in favor of the Democratic Party.
These legal pressures, combined with the merger negotiations, have added fuel to the fire of unrest within CBS News, according to the Daily Mail.
As the network attempts to finalize its deal with Skydance, the issue of editorial control continues to cast a shadow over the show’s future.
With corporate figures like Shari Redstone at the helm and growing concerns about the influence of Trump’s administration on media decisions, it appears that the network is at a crossroads.
Pelley’s on-air remarks offer a rare glimpse into the behind-the-scenes battles that have become a daily reality for the journalists at CBS.
While Paramount has yet to address the internal turmoil publicly, Pelley’s bold stance highlights the broader struggle for journalistic independence, with sources inside the newsroom asserting that the pressure to compromise editorial values is stronger than ever.
The future of “60 Minutes” and CBS may hinge on how the company manages these internal challenges alongside external political and legal pressures.
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