Who is Bill Owens? 60 minutes anchor Scott Palley calls out paramount bosses on air over executive producer’s resignation

Bill Owens has been with CBS News for nearly four decades. After his internship in 1988, he became a senior producer for the White House beat and later, senior broadcast producer for CBS Evening News. All of his editorial work at 60 Minutes led him to become the executive producer in 2019, making him the third executive producer in the show's history.

Until his latest role, Owens focused on 60 Minutes because of how hard it is to lose this opportunity, aiming to truly change the show. I knew what the lethal journalist showed with alleged realities was impossible for him to do.

But for sure they aim to eliminate the weaknesses of the show, like losing the journalistic morals that have kept 60 Minutes one of the most powerful news programs on television. As CBS News described it, he led the show with "unwavering integrity, curiosity, and a deep commitment to the truth."

Bill Owens - The resignation that shook 60 Minutes

In a press statement, outlined date April 22, 2025, Bill Owens shared his resignation reason linked to increased management scrutiny from CBS's parent conglomerate, Paramount Global. In a memo to his staff published by The New York Times, Owens stated,

"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."

The decision occurred in the middle of a political and judicial showdown: President Donald Trump had launched a $20 billion litigation attack against CBS, claiming 60 Mins was horribly editing an “honorable” interview with Vice President Kamala Harris during her campaigning for presidency in 2024.

Once more Donald Trump, in his capacity of CBS’s parent company skirting intended merger with Skylance Media that was subject to approval, noted even tighter management supervision on 60 Minutes. In Bill Owens' opinion, this shift decimated the CBS’s sytem value of journalistic integrity.

Scott Pelley’s powerful on-air tribute

Scott Pelley, 60 Minutes correspondent, took a unique approach to public discontent by commenting directly on Bill Owens’s resignation on air, April 27, 2025. Pelley said,

"None of us is happy about it... But Bill felt he lost the independence that honest journalism requires. No one here is happy about it. But in resigning, Bill proved he was the right person to lead '60 Minutes' all along." (Associated Press, April 27, 2025)

As Pelley explained, no 60 Minutes stories had been previously blocked, but following his remarks 60 Minutes stories will have to pass through Zirinsky scrutiny prior to airing.

"It was hard on him and it was hard on us," Pelley added. "But he did it for us — and you." (AP, April 27, 2025)

Defending the integrity of 60 Minutes

Bill Owens’ exit was not merely an answer to an internal problem, but rather a profound matter of defending journalism against legal onslaughts. Claiming breach of contract, CBS News has categorically denied the accusation stating:

"Same question. Same answer. But a different portion of the response. When we edit any interview... we strive to be clear, accurate and on point." (CBS News Statement, March 2025)

Regardless of the prevailing political environment, Paramount’s business interests, Bill Owens and his group continued to stave off demands for a settlement on the grounds that they did nothing wrong.

A legacy beyond 60 Minutes

A fierce commitment to truth and independence is what characterizes the legacy that Bill Owens has left behind. Wendy McMahon, president and CEO of CBS News & Stations, aptly remarked the day his resignation was made public:

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"Bill has led 60 Minutes with unwavering integrity, curiosity, and a deep commitment to the truth." (CBS News, April 22, 2025)

In the act of opting out of office, rather than bow to the values he espoused, Bill Owens assured his standing in fearless and honest journalism — 60 Minutes' hallmark and the ongoing commitment of his fellow workers.

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