Former '60 Minutes' Producer Honored After Resigning Over Concerns About CBS News Leadership

Veteran journalist Scott Pelley criticized CBS bosses for 'crumbling' to political pressure and settling a $16 million lawsuit with Donald Trump.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 1:08pm

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Scott Pelley, the veteran journalist and longtime '60 Minutes' correspondent, took a swipe at former CBS News leadership during an awards ceremony honoring former '60 Minutes' executive producer Bill Owens. Pelley referenced the circumstances surrounding Owens' resignation in 2025, saying the network's previous owners 'faced political pressure and crumbled.' This was an apparent reference to CBS settling a $16 million lawsuit with former President Donald Trump after he sued the network over what he claimed was 'biased' editing of an interview with his 2024 presidential election rival, Kamala Harris.

Why it matters

Pelley's comments highlight the growing tensions within CBS News over concerns about editorial independence and the network's willingness to appease political interests, especially in the wake of Paramount's merger with Skydance Media and the appointment of Bari Weiss as CBS News' editor-in-chief. The departure of veteran journalists like Owens and, more recently, Anderson Cooper, underscore the challenges facing the network as it navigates a changing media landscape and political climate.

The details

Owens resigned as '60 Minutes' executive producer in April 2025, citing a 'loss of editorial independence' amid Paramount's merger with Skydance Media. Pelley, who presented Owens with an award, referenced the circumstances surrounding Owens' exit, saying CBS' 'previous owners... faced political pressure and crumbled.' This was an apparent reference to CBS settling a $16 million lawsuit with former President Donald Trump after he sued the network over what he claimed was 'biased' editing of an interview with his 2024 presidential election rival, Kamala Harris. Despite legal experts claiming Trump had no basis for his lawsuit, CBS eventually settled with the former president, a move many saw as an attempt to appease him and secure Paramount's merger with Skydance Media, which required approval from the Trump administration.

  • In April 2025, Bill Owens resigned as '60 Minutes' executive producer.
  • In July 2025, the Paramount and Skydance merger was approved, with David Ellison taking over control.
  • In December 2025, Bari Weiss, the co-founder of The Free Press, was appointed as CBS News' editor-in-chief.
  • In early 2026, long-time '60 Minutes' reporter Anderson Cooper announced he would be leaving the show at the end of the current season.

The players

Scott Pelley

A veteran journalist and longtime '60 Minutes' correspondent who criticized former CBS News leadership during an awards ceremony.

Bill Owens

The former executive producer of '60 Minutes' who resigned in April 2025, citing a 'loss of editorial independence' amid Paramount's merger with Skydance Media.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who sued CBS News over what he claimed was 'biased' editing of an interview with his 2024 presidential election rival, Kamala Harris.

Bari Weiss

The co-founder of The Free Press who was appointed as CBS News' editor-in-chief in December 2025.

Anderson Cooper

A long-time '60 Minutes' reporter who announced he would be leaving the show at the end of the current season.

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What they’re saying

“Our previous owners at CBS faced political pressure and crumbled.”

— Scott Pelley, Veteran Journalist

“Bill resigned Tuesday. It was hard on him and hard on us, but he did it for us and you. Stories we've pursued for 57 years were often controversial, lately the Israel-Gaza war and the Trump administration. Bill made sure they were accurate and fair—he was tough that way.”

— Scott Pelley, Veteran Journalist

“It has become clear that I would not be allowed to run the show as I have always run it.”

— Bill Owens, Former 60 Minutes Executive Producer

What’s next

The changes at CBS News, including the departure of veteran journalists and the appointment of Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief, are likely to continue to be a source of scrutiny and debate within the industry and among the network's viewers.

The takeaway

Pelley's comments highlight the growing concerns about the erosion of editorial independence at CBS News, as the network navigates a changing media landscape and political climate. The departure of experienced journalists like Owens and Cooper underscores the challenges facing the network as it seeks to maintain its journalistic integrity and credibility.