Bill Owens, the longtime executive producer of the CBS show “60 Minutes,” has officially stepped down from the role, saying he no longer felt he had full editorial control over the program.
Owens has been with CBS since he started as a summer intern in 1988 and was in charge of “60 Minutes” since 2019. Now with his resignation, the TV exec says the job had changed to the point where he can no longer do it the way he wants to.
“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,” Owens wrote in a final memo that was obtained by the New York Post.
“So, having defended this show — and what we stand for — from every angle, over time with everything I could, I am stepping aside so the show can move forward,” he added.
Per the outlet, Owens wrote that “‘60 Minutes’ will continue to cover the new administration, as we will report on future administrations.”
“The show is too important to the country. It has to continue, just not with me as the executive producer,” he wrote.
CBS News President Wendy McMahon also shared praise for Owens, writing in a separate memo, “Standing behind what he stood for was an easy decision for me, and I never took for granted that he did the same for me.”
His resignation comes at a time when CBS is facing legal pressure on several fronts, including a $10 billion lawsuit from President Donald Trump.
Per a report from The Daily Wire, Trump is suing CBS and “60 Minutes” for allegedly manipulating footage from an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential campaign. The suit claims the network edited her answers to make her appear more polished and to boost the Democrat’s chances, which Trump says held sway with voters.
CBS reps insist that the interview was edited according to standard practices and was not politically biased. But despite their claims, the lawsuit is ongoing. CBS’ parent company, Paramount, is reportedly considering a settlement, especially as they seek a potential merger with Skydance Media.
One insider told the Post that CBS “is not the home of the investigative journalism of Mike Wallace anymore,” calling the show a “mouthpiece” for the Left.
“Every allegation of bias only tilts one way and it’s always in the favor of the Democrats,” the source said.
Owens didn’t explicitly say his resignation had anything to do with the lawsuit or other internal issues, but the timing has the public questioning his motives for leaving. It’s all part of a major shakeup of mainstream media inspired in large part by the election of Trump and the people’s desire to stop being manipulated by left-leaning outlets masquerading as non-partisan.
