CBS '60 Minutes' Producer Steps Down Amidst Resignations of Media Personalities Over Trump Matters
In an unexpected move, 60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens announced his resignation, expressing concerns over editorial autonomy in the industry during Donald Trump's administration. His departure, although startling, doesn't mark a first as other media heavyweights have jumped ship in dissent.
Owens departs amidst CBS's involvement in a lawsuit initiated by Trump, alleging unlawful practices. Several outlets, including ABC, have settled defamation cases brought forth by Trump for millions, causing Owens to question his ability to make decisions suitable for the show and its audience over the corporate bottom line.
With Trump's administration showing no signs of levity, high-profilers might continue to resign. Here are some notable media figures who've taken a similar stand prior to Trump's re-election:
- Shonda Rhimes (Kennedy Center): Famed television producer Rhimes left her position as treasurer following Trump's appointment as chairman, expressing concerns regarding artistic independence.
- Jennifer Rubin (Washington Post): After spending 15 years at the Washington Post, Rubin decided to leave, deploring the loss of traditional media's editorial independence, often bought out by wealthy individuals like Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
- Mariel Garza (Los Angeles Times): After a near-decade with the paper, Garza resigned following owner Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong's decision to override the editorial page's endorsement of presidential candidate Kamala Harris over Trump.
- Ben Folds (National Symphony Orchestra): Once the artistic advisor to the NSO, Ben Folds resigned following Trump's decision to revamp the Kennedy Center board.
- Renée Fleming (Kennedy Center): Like others before her, Fleming left the Kennedy Center board out of respect for ousted president Deborah Rutter following Trump's takeover.
- Jim Acosta (CNN): CNN personality Jim Acosta, a frequent critic of Trump, stepped down after the network shifted him to a less-prominent timeslot, an act many believed was to avoid Trump's wrath.
- David E. Hoffman (Washington Post Editorial Board): Along with two other journalists, Hoffman resigned from the Washington Post's editorial board, protesting owner Bezos's decision to block the endorsement of Harris.
- Ruth Marcus (Washington Post): Marcus, a Washington Post Opinion contributor for over 4 decades, resigned after Bezos announced plans to refocus the editorial section, aligning it more closely with free market principles and "Trumpian views."
- Harry Litman (Los Angeles Times): In response to owner Soon-Shiong's editorial influence, Litman, a LA Times opinion contributor for 15 years, announced he would no longer write for the section.
- Karen Attiah (National Association of Black Journalists): In protest of hosting Trump for a Q&A, co-chair of the NABJ 2024 conference Attiah resigned her role, expressing disappointment over the organization providing him a platform without consultation.
As the political climate continues to evolve, we might see more media figures stepping down in solidarity with their principles and convictions.
- Bill Owens, similar to Shonda Rhimes and Ben Folds, resigned from CBS due to concerns about editorial autonomy, a trend that escalated during Donald Trump's administration.
- Owens' resignation, much like Jennifer Rubin's departure from The Washington Post, was a response to the loss of editorial independence due to corporate interests.
- In the realm of general-news, developments like the 60 Minutes producer quitting and Trump's resignations raise questions about the future of media autonomy.
- Amidst ransomware attacks and politics, the resignations of media figures like Owens and Rhimes underscore the importance of maintaining editorial independence in the industry.
