60 Minutes had a hell of a week last week, and I’m guessing CBS News didn’t want Scott Pelley to address it to end the program on Sunday. But he did. And I think he, the show, the network, and its viewers are better for it.
The show’s executive producer, Bill Owens, announced he was stepping down after nearly three decades leading the news magazine. He shared that he felt as if his editorial independence had been interfered with by CBS News and Paramount Global executives. Subsequent reports have shared that Paramount chair Shari Redstone had been asking detailed questions about 60 Minutes segments before they aired, especially when they regarded President Donald Trump and his administration.
It isn’t hard to figure out why Redstone would be interested in those stories. Paramount is in the midst of attempting to merge with Skydance Media, which needs to be approved by…the Donald Trump administration. Furthermore, Trump has launched a $20 billion — not a typo — lawsuit against what he alleges is selective editing for an interview the program featured with former Vice President Kamala Harris in the run-up to the 2024 presidential election.
Many have deemed the lawsuit frivolous. But, when you’re what’s standing in the way between Paramount and Skydance merging, who can knock Donald Trump for looking for a quasi, on-the-record kickback (outside of those with morals and ethics, of course)?
It also isn’t hard for even the most non-observant observer to connect those dots. Nonetheless, I’m certain high-level executives from Paramount and CBS News didn’t exactly love Scott Pelley addressing the situation in the final moments of Sunday’s episode of 60 Minutes.
But here is the message I think dozens, hundreds, maybe even thousands of executives need to hear: If your gut tells you to tell your talent not to talk about an issue — especially an internal topic, ignore it. Tell your gut to shut up.
Because when you don’t hide from your problems, everyone benefits. You couldn’t pay for a bigger credibility boost than what CBS News and 60 Minutes got this past weekend as Pelley — the venerable host who has decades of experience in front of news consumers — laid out the network’s dirty laundry.
If Scott Pelley and 60 Minutes are willing to share the information their own bosses don’t want them to share, I’m willing to bet they’re willing to report on the topics that the government, your favorite or most hated political candidate, or anyone else for that matter, don’t want out there.
And that’s the point, right? 60 Minutes is expected to be a bastion of “big j” journalism. That carries a burden that many others might not be willing to deal with. And for almost 60 years, the show has done just that. 60 Minutes is — or at least, should be — ingrained in the fabric of CBS. It didn’t get that way overnight, and it didn’t get that way for carrying the water of its corporate overlords, so it shouldn’t be expected to do that now.
This situation goes back to something I’ve written about before in this space, and will continue to do so until it changes. If you’re not going to tell your story, someone else is. 60 Minutes was the talk of the news media world last week, and for good reason. The days of just sweeping things you don’t want uncovered under the rug are over. It would have been a disservice to the show, the network, the company, and the viewers if the show didn’t address the topic.
And even if the edict from the suits was to not address the situation — and Pelley and producers went rogue — there’s still a defense he can use that’s undeniable.
It would have been easy for Scott Pelley to be resentful, spiteful, or whatever word you’d like to use. He could have been hateful and vengeful, but wasn’t. He was respectful.
Furthermore, he was factual. He did not deviate from the facts of the story. He shared his personal opinion and admiration for the former 60 Minutes executive producer, but also stuck to the facts when it mattered most. There really wasn’t a place where someone could take issue with how he addressed the topic.
That should be the lesson for on-air talent. If you’re given the chance to address a sensitive topic, especially when it has to do with your station/brand, colleagues, personnel, business, or company, do it with the right frame of mind and approach. If you’re respectful in your tone and substance, even the most ardent opponent is disarmed by not having one of the most useful cards in their deck.
Scott Pelley put on a masterclass in how to talk about the things your bosses don’t want you to discuss. Let’s hope, in the future, those restrictions aren’t put on anyone, and a lesson can be learned about addressing the difficult topics.
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Garrett Searight is Barrett Media’s News Editor, which includes writing daily news stories, features, and opinion columns. He joined Barrett Media in 2022 after a decade leading several radio brands in several formats, as well as a 5-year stint working in local television. In addition to his work with Barrett Media, he is a radio and TV play-by-play broadcaster. Reach out to him at Garrett@BarrettMedia.com.
