CBS Information CEO Wendy McMahon stated Monday that she is resigning after 4 years, the newest fallout on the community as its mother or father firm considers settling a lawsuit with U.S. President Donald Trump over a 60 Minutes interview together with his former political opponent, Kamala Harris.
McMahon, who has led each the community information division and information for the CBS-owned stations, stated in an e mail to employees that “it is change into clear that the corporate and I don’t agree on the trail ahead. It is time to transfer on and for this group to maneuver ahead with new management.”
McMahon has made clear she opposes settling with Trump — similar to 60 Minutes government producer Invoice Owens, who stop final month.
Trump has sued CBS, alleging it edited an interview with 2024 with Harris final fall to profit her. CBS Information has denied that. CBS’s mother or father firm, Paramount International, is in talks to doubtlessly settle Trump’s lawsuit. On the similar time, Paramount International is in search of administration approval of a merger with Skydance Media.
George Cheeks, co-CEO of Paramount and head of the CBS community, stated McMahon’s prime deputies, CBS Information president Tom Cibrowski and CBS Stations president Jennifer Mitchell, will report on to him.
McMahon, in her notice, stated that “the previous few months have been difficult.”
“I’ve spent the previous couple of months shoring up our companies and ensuring the precise leaders are in place, and I’ve little question they are going to proceed to set the usual.”
Along with the tussle with Trump, Paramount’s controlling shareholder, Shari Redstone, has expressed unhappiness over some community protection of Israel’s conflict in Gaza, together with a 60 Minutes piece this winter. Paramount started supervising 60 Minutes tales in new methods, together with asking former CBS Information president Susan Zirinsky to look over a few of its tales earlier than they aired.
That additional layer contributed to Owens’s resignation. One of many present’s correspondents, Scott Pelley, stated on the air that “none of us is joyful” concerning the modifications.
CBS Information can be attempting to ascertain the brand new anchor crew of John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois at its flagship CBS Night Information broadcast amid rankings troubles.
In his notice to employees members, Cheeks praised McMahon for increasing native information at CBS stations and bettering their aggressive positions, together with bettering the community’s digital choices.