The day 60 Minutes stopped ticking
From Cronkite to capitulation
CBS used to be called the “Tiffany Network” because of its high-quality programming and its gold-plated news product with a roster of star journalists and uncompromising ethical standards.
How the mighty have fallen.
The New York Times reports that the corporate owners of CBS, Paramount, will begin mediation today with a goal of settling a lawsuit filed against it by Donald Trump. Further, the Times reports, Paramount’s board has okayed a certain dollar amount that it will pay for a settlement. Trump’s $10-billion-dollar lawsuit alleges 60 Minutes edited a pre-election interview with Kamala Harris to make her answer look clearer than what she actually said. In February, I wrote how a settlement by CBS would stab all journalists in the back, and it looks like that’s exactly what’s going to happen.
Trump’s lawsuit has no merit. Reporters edit every interview. It’s their job. Any reasonable judge would toss the case out the courtroom window. But Paramount needs Trump’s approval for a merger with Hollywood studio Skydance, so it appears willing to bow down before Trump rather than fighting for their journalistic rights.
60 Minutes is the last glittering ornament on the CBS Christmas tree. The CBS Evening News, which used to dominate ratings, is now a sad newscast with two dull guys fronting ho-hum, long stories. It’s been in third place for several decades. The CBS Morning News continues its usual third place showing.
But 60 Minutes has dominated in the ratings since its 1968 debut. For the week of March 10th, 2025, it was the second most-watched program on broadcast television. It appears CBS is willing to trash that legacy, too.
Resigning in protest
Last week, the longtime executive producer of 60 Minutes, Bill Owens, resigned in protest of ownership looking over his shoulder and suggesting what should be covered and what should be avoided. In a memo to staff, Owens wrote, “over the past months, it has become clear that I would not be allowed to run the show as I have always run it, to make independent decisions based on what was right for ‘60 Minutes,’ right for the audience.”
Specifically, Paramount’s controlling shareholder Shari Redstone was concerned when President Trump complained about a segment on his efforts to annex Greenland and his oval office smackdown of Ukrainian president Zelensky. She wanted to know what future segments were planned on Trump. That was too much for Bill Owens, so he stepped down. And rightly so.
A Sunday night smackdown
Then came Sunday’s extraordinary closing segment on 60 Minutes when anchor Scott Pelley told viewers about Bill Owens stepping down. You can watch the two-minute segment here. Pelley said, ”our parent company, Paramount, is trying to complete a merger. The Trump administration must approve it. Paramount began to supervise our content in new ways. None of our stories has been blocked, but Bill felt he lost the independence that honest journalism requires.” He added, “No one here is happy about it.”
Nor should you be. Can we ever again trust 60 Minutes to give us “honest journalism”? I assume the company will put in place a producer who will do exactly what the corporate overlords want. That means no stories that might upset the temperamental man-child in the White House. You would be right to think from this point forward you’re being spoon-fed stories that have been “approved” by people more interested in their stock options than in journalistic principles.
It’s so sad that Paramount is willing to trash the reputation of one of its most iconic brands.
And it’s all bad news for the Des Moines Register and pollster Ann Selzer, who Trump sued over a political poll he didn’t like. It’s bad news for all journalists, because caving to Trump encourages him to file more baseless lawsuits, forcing news organizations to expend precious dollars on legal fees to put up a fight, or to cave like CBS appears willing to do.
An authoritarianism strategy
Big picture – this is all part of Trump’s strategy to weaken any institution that challenges him, be it the news media, the courts, law firms, universities or Congress. Our country is being frog-marched toward authoritarianism and not enough people realize it. And without reliable, independent journalists giving the American people “honest journalism”, it’s going to be difficult to understand what’s happening to our country.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Journalists are supposed to do tough stories on those in power. We’re supposed to hold their feet to the fire – hold them responsible for their actions. We’re not supposed to be popular. And we’re not supposed to do stories that make life easy for the suits in the C-suite.
I’ve been a CBS News guy all my life, growing up watching Walter Cronkite, working 40 years at a strong CBS affiliate, having been lucky to meet Cronkite, Charles Osgood, Dan Rather, Harry Smith, Scott Pelley and countless outstanding reporters and producers. I’ve always respected the brand. But this? This is way over the line. It signals a new era where you, as a serious news consumer, must be constantly on guard to ensure you’re getting “honest journalism” and not corporate-approved pablum.
As Edward R. Murrow used to say, “Good night, and good luck.” Emphasis on the good luck.
A proud member of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative. See our roster of writers here.
I, too, am old enough to remember Edward R. Murrow. How scary to see the decline of journalism my grandkids are experiencing!
Thank you for your candid writing‼️