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Bill Owens is stepping down as government producer of 60 Minutes after 5 years on the helm. His departure marks a serious change for the long-running CBS information journal, a staple of American tv for many years. In a video message, longtime 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley praised Owens’ management and mirrored on his impression throughout a pivotal time for the present.
While Owens has not shared many particulars publicly, CBS confirmed his exit and thanked him for his contributions. Wendy McMahon, president and CEO of CBS News, additionally notified staff by electronic mail, highlighting Owens’ work and reaffirming the corporate’s dedication to this system.
“Tom and I are committed to 60 Minutes and to ensuring that the mission and the work remain our priority,” McMahon mentioned, referring to CBS News president and government editor Tom Cibrowski.
Find out extra about Owens and his choice to go away 60 Minutes beneath.
Who Is Bill Owens?
Owens is a veteran journalist who served as the chief producer of CBS’s 60 Minutes from February 2019 till his resignation in April 2025. He joined CBS News in 1988 and has held numerous roles, together with senior producer and government editor. Under his management, 60 Minutes maintained its standing as one in every of America’s most-watched information packages, incomes quite a few accolades for its investigative journalism.
Why Is Bill Owens Leaving 60 Minutes?
Owens resigned from 60 Minutes citing issues over diminishing journalistic independence. In a memo to workers, he mentioned he might now not make autonomous editorial choices on account of rising company oversight, notably as CBS’s dad or mum firm, Paramount Global, pursued a merger requiring approval from the Trump administration. Owens emphasised that he was stepping apart so the present might proceed with out compromising its journalistic requirements.
60 Minutes immediately calls out its dad or mum firm, Paramount, following the resignation of government producer Bill Owens pic.twitter.com/KL9XSM35se
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) April 28, 2025
Donald Trump has had a rocky historical past with CBS, notably with 60 Minutes. In 2020, he minimize brief an interview with Lesley Stahl after turning into displeased together with her questions. He additionally declined to be interviewed by this system throughout the 2024 presidential marketing campaign.
On April 13, 2025, Trump accused 60 Minutes of “fraudulent, beyond recognition, reporting” in a Truth Social publish. He urged authorities regulators to strip CBS of its broadcast license, writing, “CBS is out of control, at levels never seen before, and they should pay a big price for this.”
What Is Bill Owens’ 60 Minutes Salary?
Specific particulars about Owens’ wage haven’t been publicly disclosed. However, given his function as government producer of 60 Minutes and the present’s prominence, it’s possible that his compensation was substantial.