Mastodawn

#CBSNews entered a new period of turmoil on Tuesday after the executive producer of “#60Minutes,” #BillOwens, said that he would resign from the long-running Sunday news program because he had lost his #JournalisticIndependence.

#GiftArticle
#Trump #Dictatorship #Censorship #StateTV #StateMedia #Propaganda #democracy #law #FreePress #FreeSpeech #Constitution #FirstAmendment #FourthEstate #4thEstate #journalism
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/22/business/media/cbs-60-minutes-trump-bill-owens.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Bk8.RqoX.p3lFlnyQqSwe&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

‘60 Minutes’ Chief Resigns in Emotional Meeting: ‘The Company Is Done With Me’

The news program has faced mounting pressure from both President Trump and its corporate ownership at Paramount, the parent company of CBS News.

The New York Times

Show thread

Nonilex Apr 22, 2025

In an extraordinary declaration, #BillOwens —only the 3rd person to run the program in its 57-year history—told his staff in a memo that “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 ‘#60Minutes,’ right for the audience.”

#Trump #Dictatorship #Censorship #StateMedia #Propaganda #democracy #law #FreePress #FreeSpeech #Constitution #FirstAmendment #FourthEstate #journalism

Show thread

Nonilex Apr 22, 2025

“So, having defended this show—& what we stand for—from every angle, over time with everything I could, I am stepping aside so the show can move forward,” #BillOwens wrote in the memo, which was obtained by NYT.

“#60Minutes” has faced mounting pressure in recent months from both #Trump, who sued #CBS for $10B & has accused the program of “unlawful & illegal behavior,” & its own #corporate owner at #Paramount, the parent company of #CBSNews.

#StateMedia #democracy #law #FreePress #journalism

Show thread

Nonilex Apr 22, 2025

#Paramount’s controlling shareholder, #ShariRedstone, is eager to secure the #Trump admin’s approval for a multibillion-dollar sale of her company to #Skydance, a company run by the son of the #tech #billionaire #LarryEllison. She has expressed a desire to settle Trump’s case, which stems from what Trump has called a deceptively edited interview in October with VP #KamalaHarris that aired on “#60Minutes” [total fucking bullshit lies].

#AmericanAutocracy #Propaganda #democracy #law #FreePress

Show thread

Nonilex Apr 22, 2025

#Legal experts have dismissed that suit as baseless & far-fetched [ya don’t say], & #BillOwens said in Feb that he would not apologize as part of any prospective settlement. Many #journalists at #CBSNews — the former home of #WalterCronkite & #MikeWallace — believe that a settlement would amount to a #capitulation to #Trump over what they consider standard-issue gripes about editorial judgment.

#AmericanAutocracy #Dictatorship #StateMedia #Propaganda #democracy #law #FreePress #journalism

Show thread

Nonilex Apr 22, 2025

In his memo on Tues, #BillOwens pledged that “‘#60Minutes’ will continue to cover the new #Trump admin, as we will report on future administrations” [though seriously? Ge cannot guarantee that if he isn’t there]. He added: “The show is too important to the country. It has to continue, just not with me as the executive producer.”

#AmericanAutocracy #Dictatorship #Censorship #StateMedia #Propaganda #democracy #law #FreePress #FreeSpeech #Constitution #FirstAmendment #FourthEstate #journalism

Show thread

Nonilex Apr 29, 2025

#Capitulation #Appeasement #Disgrace
Lawyers for #Trump & #Paramount, the parent company of #CBSNews, are set to begin mediation on Wednesday over a lawsuit brought by Trump that accuses “#60Minutes” of *deceptively* [accurately] editing an interview with his 2024 Democratic opponent, #KamalaHarris.

#law #journalism #ethics #FourthEstate #BillOwens #Constitution #FirstAmendment #FreeSpeech #FreePress #democracy #autocracy #dictatorship #censorship #StateMedia #propaganda
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/29/business/media/paramount-cbs-60-minutes-trump-lawsuit.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&sgrp=p&pvid=4F0A1033-7C72-43C9-B834-781E1210163C

Paramount Board Clears Possible Path for Settling Trump’s ‘60 Minutes’ Lawsuit

Paramount’s interest in settling has dismayed CBS’s news division. The executive producer of “60 Minutes” abruptly resigned last week.

The New York Times

Show thread

Nonilex Apr 29, 2025

#Legal experts have called the suit baseless & an easy victory for #CBS. But #Paramount is entering the talks prepared to make a deal.

In an April 18 meeting, the Paramount board outlined acceptable financial terms for a potential settlement w/ #Trump, acc/to 3 people…. The exact dollar amounts remain unclear, but the board’s move clears a path for an out-of-court resolution.

#law #60Minutes #journalism #ethics #FourthEstate #BillOwens #Constitution #FreePress #democracy #autocracy #censorship

Show thread

Nonilex Apr 29, 2025

#ShariRedstone, the company’s controlling #shareholder, has said she favors settling the case. She is set to receive a major #payday in a pending #sale of Paramount to a Hollywood studio, #Skydance, that requires sign-off from the #Trump admin. Any settlement would ultimately require the board’s approval, & Redstone has told the board that she is *recusing* herself from deliberations related to the lawsuit.

#law #60Minutes #CBS #journalism #BillOwens #FreePress #democracy #autocracy #StateMedia

Show thread

GFJacobs Is Still Masking Apr 30, 2025

@Nonilex

And we favor boycotting and dropping @cbs

Show thread

JamesWNeal Apr 22, 2025

@Nonilex yeah, that was my feeling when reading that bit. Somebody Shari Redstone likes is going to replace him, so more likely people from staff to on-air talent will end up walking too.

Show thread

TC Won't Give In To Lies Apr 22, 2025

@Nonilex

Frickin' billionaires should not own the journalism we need to hold power to account.

Show thread

Alex P Roe

Apr 22, 2025

@Nonilex Greed. Again.

Show thread

John Breen Apr 22, 2025

@Nonilex It's also why I've cancelled my ParamountPlus/CBS subscription. Like the NYT and WaPo, they deserve none of my subscription money while they cave in to fascists.

Show thread

Steve's Place Apr 22, 2025

@Nonilex I think it had something to do with why Taylor Tomlinson left After Midnight, even though she was given a 3rd season. CBS is a mess, and her quip, "Well, we got through the Trump monologue" might have been a hint. She deserved better after attracting major sponsors for a show that began at 12:37, after everyone usually is asleep. Good for Bill. Maybe he ought to produce her.

Show thread