(AP) – “60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Perry paid tribute to the show’s executive producer, Bill Owens on Sunday. Someone who resigned last weekabout the extra supervision imposed by corporate leaders, saying, “None of us is happy.”
Perry commented at the end of the evening’s CBS News TV broadcast, saying that quitting proved he was the right person for the job.
“It was tough for him and tough for us,” Perry said. “But he did it for us – and you.”
His on-air statement was a rare peek at the backstage of inner turmoil that viewers rarely get to see.
Owens, the third top executive in the 57-year history of TV’s most influential newscasts, resigned last week and said he felt independence and necessary to run the program just like he had in the past.
Paramount Global, parent company of CBS News, is currently in the process of a merger with SkyDance media, which requires approval from the Trump administration. I have Trump He complained, “60 minutes.” For $20 billion, she had no advantage in saying she had unfairly edited Kamala Harris’ interview last fall. Owens and others in “60 minutes” believe they have done nothing wrong and are against the reconciliation.
Watch a special “60 minutes” story before they air
As a result, Perry explained to viewers on Sunday, and Paramount began directing the “60 Minute” storyline in a new way. Susan Zilinsky, a longtime news producer and former CBS News president, reportedly was asked to watch the show’s story before they aired.
“None of our stories are blocked,” Perry said. “But Bill felt that he had lost the independence needed for honest journalism. No one here is happy about it. But by resigning, Bill proved he was the right person to lead the ’60 minutes’ the whole time. ”
Despite this, “60 minutes” was held. A tough story about the Trump administration Almost every week since taking office in January, much of it was reported by Perry. On Sunday, “60 Minutes” correspondent Shalin Alfonsi was the scientist interviewing the latest scientists about cuts at the National Institutes of Health.
Trump was particularly angry at the show’s television two weeks ago, saying on social media that CBS news should be “We’ll pay a big price” To chase him.
