Bill Owens is exiting his role as executive producer of 60 Minutes. In his surprise announcement—first reported by The New York Times—the CBS News veteran cited a loss of journalistic independence as the reason for his departure.
“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 memo to staff provided to TVNewser. “I am stepping aside so the show can move forward.”
“I know who I am and what I have done to cover the most important stories of our time under difficult conditions,” Owens added. “Thank you all, remain focused on the moment, our audience deserves it.”
In a separate memo to staff also provided to TVNewser, CBS News and Stations president Wendy McMahon, confirmed Owens’ departure, writing: “Working with Bill has been one of the great privileges of my career. 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.”
McMahon also wrote that she remained “committed” to “the mission and the work” of the 60 Minutes team. “We have already begun conversations with correspondents and senior leaders, and those will continue in the days and weeks ahead.”
TVNewser has reached out to CBS News for additional comment, but none was received at press time.
Owens is exiting the newsmagazine months after it attracted the ire of President Donald Trump, who filed a lawsuit over an October interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris in the waning weeks of the 2024 presidential campaign. Trump’s $20 billion suit accuses 60 Minutes of “deceitful” editing practices, a charge that CBS News labeled as “completely without merit.”
In the ensuing months, though, reports emerged that Shari Redstone—who owns the network’s parent company, Paramount Global—was seeking to settle the suit amidst the company’s impending merger with Skydance Media. In February, CBS News released an unedited transcript and raw video footage of the 60 Minutes interview with Harris to both the Federal Communications Commission and the general public.
“There have been reports in the media about a settlement and/or apology,” Owens reportedly told staff at the time. “The company knows I will not apologize for anything we have done.”
Earlier this month, Paramount and Trump reportedly selected a mediator to explore terms of a settlement. Those discussions remain ongoing, even as the president has renewed his objections to 60 Minutes for their recent coverage his administration.