’60 Minutes’ Addresses EP Bill Owens’ Departure in On-Air Segment: “Paramount Began to Supervise Our Content in New Ways”

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On Sunday, the broadcast of ’60 Minutes’ concluded with a discussion about the unexpected resignation of its executive producer, Bill Owens, that took place the previous week.

During the “Last Minute” section of the program, Scott Pelley spoke about the recent resignation of Owens from his role as executive producer, a position he’s held since 2019.

In this version, I tried to maintain the original meaning while making it easier and more natural to read by rephrasing some of the sentence structures and using simpler language where possible.

60 Minutes, in its long-standing history of over five decades, has tackled numerous contentious tales. Pelley acknowledged that Owens ensured these stories were truthful and impartial, demonstrating a toughness in his approach.

He went on to say: “However, our corporate parent, Paramount, is working towards a merger which needs approval from the Trump administration. As a result, Paramount started overseeing our content in different ways. Although none of our stories have been barred, Bill felt his journalistic independence was compromised.

Pelley pointed out that Owens had spent 40 years at CBS News, 26 of which were at 60 Minutes, and everyone was displeased about his departure. In fact, Owens was just the third executive producer in the history of the CBS newsmagazine; last year, he took on the responsibility of overseeing CBS Evening News as well.

Last week, Owens unexpectedly stepped down from his position. In a note to the team, he explained that he found it difficult to act independently and do what he believed was best for “60 Minutes“.

Over the last few months, it’s become apparent that I won’t be able to continue managing things as I usually do. Specifically, making decisions independently that align with the best interests of 60 Minutes and its audience. Given my longstanding commitment to protecting this show and our values, I have decided to step down so it can keep progressing.

Read Pelley’s full comments on 60 Minutes below:

In the closing moments, let’s touch upon Bill Owens, who until recently served as the executive producer for 60 Minutes. He was, in fact, our superior.

Bill spent almost four decades working for CBS News, spending over two and a half decades at ’60 Minutes.’ Throughout his career, he reported on various global events, wars, and the White House. His mission was always about broadening people’s perspectives rather than narrowing them.

If you’ve ever put in extra effort for a boss because you respected them, then you can relate to the experience we’ve shared here.

Bill resigned Tuesday. It was hard on him and hard on us, but he did it for us and you.

The tales we’ve been chasing for nearly six decades have been quite contentious. Recently, topics such as the Israel-Gaza conflict and the Trump presidency have stirred up a lot of debate.

OR

For the past 57 years, stories that we’ve delved into have sparked much controversy. Lately, issues like the Israel-Gaza war and the Trump administration have been hotly debated.

Bill ensured everything was precise and impartial. He had a firm approach. However, our higher entity, Paramount, is endeavoring to finalize a merger. This deal requires the approval of the Trump administration.

As a devoted fan, I’ve noticed a shift in how Paramount is handling our content recently. While none of our narratives have been prohibited, there’s a sense that the freedom essential for authentic journalism—the independence Bill values so deeply—seems to be diminishing.

Despite the discontent, by stepping down, Bill demonstrated undeniably that he was the ideal candidate for the 60 Minutes leadership role.

Though there wasn’t much joy in it, Bill’s resignation made it clear that he was indeed the perfect fit to head 60 Minutes.

Or:

Bill’s decision to resign didn’t bring cheer, but it showed everyone that he was the best choice for leading 60 Minutes all along.

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2025-04-28 04:54