Bill OwensThe best producer at 60 minutesannounced Tuesday that he was leaving the show because he is unable to manage the program as he has done in the past.
In a memo to staff members, Owens wrote that he could no longer make independent decisions according to what is good for the public of the Investigation program.
“Having defended this show – and what we defend – from all angles, over time and with all that I could, I retire so that the show can move forward“, He wrote in memo, as reported for the first time by the New York Times.
Owens’ resignation comes as CBS’s mother company, Paramount Global endeavors to set up a trial of US dollars filed by the American president Donald Trump Last fall. Trump challenged the way the program published an interview with the president of the time, Kamala Harris, saying that the program had been deceptive to promote Harris.
Get national news
For news that has an impact on Canada and worldwide, register for the safeguarding of news alerts that are delivered to you directly when they occur.
Trump also demanded a retraction and even suggested the CBS The diffusion permit is revoked.
The network denied Trump’s claims on its editing, saying in a statement last October: “Former President Donald Trump complaint against 60 minutes are falseAnd insisting that “the interview was not hunted down” and “hid any part of” Harris’ answer to the question in question.
In a separate declaration, reports NBC News, 60 minutes said he had given an extract from the interview from Harris to CBS Face the nation program, which Choose to use a longer clip of the response of the former Democratic presidential candidate.
“Same question. Same answer. But another part of the answer. When we modify an interview, whether it is a politician, an athlete or a movie star, we strive to be clear, exact and on the point,” the statement said. “The part of his response over 60 minutes was more succinct, which allows other subjects in a large segment of 21 minutes.”
According to previous reports from the New York Times, Paramount has embarked on interviews with Trump, but Owens had said to his staff He would not apologize For Harris interviews as part of a regulation.
In Owens’ note to staff, he reports politico, he promised that 60 minutes will continue to cover the Trump administration “as we will report on future administrations” and shared a few words of trust.
“The show is too important for the country, it must continue, but not with me as an executive producer,” he wrote.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Owen had been a long -standing employee of CBS with 37 years of service to his credit. He was the third executive producer of 60 minutes’57 years of history, and also supervised News from CBS Enir.
Global News contacted CBS to comment.
–
In Canada, 60 minutes are broadcast on Sunday evening on Global at 7 p.m. He / PT.
– With files from the Associated Press
& Copy 2025 Global News, A Division of Corus Entertainment Inc.