60 Minutes Goes on the Attack Against CBS Television and Paramount Global

On Sunday, April 27, 2025, during the closing segment of 60 Minutes, veteran correspondent Scott Pelley delivered an unexpected and pointed on-air rebuke of CBS’s parent company, Paramount Global. This rare public criticism followed the resignation of longtime executive producer Bill Owens, who stepped down citing a loss of editorial independence due to increased corporate oversight.

Pelley praised Owens for his commitment to fair and honest journalism, stating that “no one is happy” about his departure. He explained that while no stories had been blocked, Paramount had begun supervising content in new ways, compromising the journalistic integrity that 60 Minutes has upheld for decades. Pelley emphasized that Owens’ resignation was a principled stand for newsroom independence

The backdrop to this internal conflict includes Paramount’s ongoing efforts to secure a merger with Skydance Media, which requires approval from the Trump administration. Concurrently, CBS is facing a $20 billion lawsuit filed by former President Donald Trump, alleging that the network deceptively edited an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 election to portray her more favorably .

In his closing remarks, Pelley highlighted the show’s tradition of covering controversial topics, including recent reports on the Israel-Gaza conflict and the Trump administration, underscoring concerns over potential constraints on editorial freedom amid corporate and political pressures .

The resignation of Owens and Pelley’s candid commentary have sparked discussions about the importance of journalistic independence and the potential impact of corporate and political influences on news organizations.

According to a statement, “Jeremy Murphy is a sarcastic, embittered veteran of the media industry. Founder of 360bespoke, a respected boutique PR agency in New York, Murphy handles a full roster of clients in the lifestyle, beauty, fashion, and start-up fields. Previously, he was Vice President of Communications at CBS, where he worked for 14 years. There, he oversaw PR for many of its divisions and created its glossy magazine Watch. Murphy started as a journalist, working with Knight Ridder newspapers and Mediaweek. He is a graduate of Florida Atlantic University and lives in New York with his cat, Champers.”

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