Lesley Stahl Says She’s ‘Devastated’ by Upheaval at ’60 Minutes’

One of many longest-serving correspondents at “60 Minutes” hopes the departure of the newsmagazine’s prime producer is sufficient to get the father or mother firm of CBS Information to offer the present again its independence.

Lesley Stahl, who has labored on “60 Minutes” for 35 seasons and for CBS Information since 1971, says the exit of Invoice Owens, simply the third govt producer within the seminal information program’s historical past, has left her “devastated,” she informed Selection throughout an interview Tuesday. Owens “represented all the pieces in a boss you can need.”

Owens, who has led this system since 2019, stated in a gathering Tuesday that he had determined to depart the present and CBS Information, citing an rising lack of capability “to make impartial selections based mostly on what was proper for ’60 Minutes,’ proper for the viewers.”

He steps down as Paramount World, the father or mother of CBS Information, is eagerly pursuing a sale to Skydance Media, which executives imagine has been sophisticated by a lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump in opposition to the present and CBS Information, alleging that “60 Minutes” tried to mislead voters by airing final 12 months two totally different edits of remarks made in an interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris, then Trump’s rival for the White Home. CBS sought to have the case thrown out, and lots of authorized consultants have expressed the notion that the swimsuit’s authorized standing is flimsy.

Executives at CBS “are dedicated to ’60 Minutes’ and to making sure that the mission and the work stay our precedence,” stated Wendy McMahon, who oversees CBS Information, stations and syndication operations, in a memo Tuesday. ” We’ve already begun conversations with correspondents and senior leaders, and people will proceed within the days and weeks forward.”

In keeping with individuals acquainted with this system, Paramount had arrange outdoors displays for the present’s varied processes, placing the newsmagazine’s independence in danger. “I’ve been made conscious of interference in our information processes, and calling into query our judgement,” says Stahl. “That’s not the way in which that corporations that personal information organizations ought to be performing.”

Owens “simply couldn’t abide the interference,” says Stahl. “We hope that this message reaches our bosses, that now we have a popularity to uphold. It’s one of many causes that CBS Information is effective. It’s what ’60 Minutes’ stands for, and we are able to’t lose that. We are able to’t afford to lose that. We’ve misplaced our boss due to it. It’s simply crushing.”

Over time, Stahl has demonstrated a proclivity to talk out in protection of this system. In March, whereas accepting an business award, Stahl informed these assembled that “60 Minutes” was “preventing for its life.” One of many producers on the newsmagazine who has labored carefully with Stahl through the years as soon as referred to as her “Grandma Badass.”

Stahl stated Owens urged employees to stick with the present and to maintain “60 Minutes” alive. Tanya Simon, the manager editor of this system, is anticipated to take the reins of the newsmagazine on an interim foundation, and is seen as a probable candidate to succeed Owens, in accordance with individuals acquainted with the present. The present just isn’t anticipated to vary any of the tales it deliberate to cowl during the season, certainly one of these individuals stated.

CBS Information informed staffers Tuesday that it meant to call a brand new chief from throughout the firm’s ranks, Stahl says. Simon is “an ideal newswoman,” Stahl says.

“I’m hoping that Invoice’s sacrifice, as Scott Pelley referred to as it, is a message that resonates and modifications may be made,” she provides.