Wendy McMahon, President and Co-Head of CBS Information and Stations.
Michele Crowe | CBS | Getty Photos
CBS Information Chief Government Officer Wendy McMahon introduced Monday she is stepping down, the announcement twist in a rising battle of wills between the corporate’s information division and Paramount Global controlling shareholder Shari Redstone.
Paramount World co-CEO George Cheeks had a dialogue with McMahon Saturday and requested for her resignation, based on individuals acquainted with the matter. McMahon agreed to step down, and the Paramount World board held a gathering Sunday at which members have been made conscious of the choice, based on these individuals, who spoke on the situation of anonymity to debate inside issues.
Spokespeople for McMahon, Paramount World and CBS Information declined to remark.
“The previous few months have been difficult. It is turn out to be clear that the corporate and I don’t agree on the trail ahead. It is time for me to maneuver on and for this group to maneuver ahead with new management,” McMahon wrote in her resignation letter to workers.
In current weeks, Paramount World’s board had put growing strain on Cheeks and McMahon to know particular particulars about “60 Minutes” programming forward of its air date in a divergence from how the present operated prior to now, based on individuals acquainted with the matter. Veteran “60 Minutes” government producer Invoice Owens resigned final month, citing Paramount World’s increased scrutiny on his journalistic independence.
“Our mother or father firm Paramount is attempting to finish a merger,” “60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Pelley mentioned on-air at the end of an episode last month after Owens resigned. “The Trump administration should approve it. Paramount started to oversee our content material in new methods. None of our tales has been blocked, however Invoice felt he had misplaced the independence that trustworthy journalism requires.”
“60 Minutes” aired its remaining episode of the season on Sunday. It will not have reside episodes once more till September. McMahon felt she needed to battle to even get “60 Minutes” to air in any respect in current weeks, given the board’s desire that sure tales not run, based on individuals acquainted with her pondering.
McMahon was appointed CEO in August 2023.
There have additionally been a number of factors of stress between McMahon and Redstone in current months, together with CBS’s protection of the Israeli-Palestinian battle and a possible “60 Minutes” settlement with the Trump administration over the modifying of an October interview with then-presidential candidate and former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris. Privately, Redstone has criticized McMahon for “equity and steadiness” points, based on individuals acquainted with Redstone’s pondering.
Redstone has additionally been sad with McMahon’s management and the efficiency of CBS Information from a enterprise perspective, based on individuals acquainted with Redstone’s pondering.
Merging with Skydance
Paramount World is attempting to get authorities approval to merge with Skydance Media, run by David Ellison. The deal would pay Redstone greater than $1.5 billion for her controlling share within the firm. She wouldn’t have a task on the merged entity going ahead.
That merger is being held up by the Federal Communications Fee as negotiations between Paramount World and the federal government proceed over the “60 Minutes” interview.
One other level of competition between the federal company and the corporate is company variety initiatives, The Wall Avenue Journal reported last month. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has publicly urged media corporations to curb variety, fairness and inclusion packages.
In February, Paramount said it would end its DEI policies, citing an government order by President Donald Trump that banned the practices.
In October, she publicly criticized McMahon’s determination to reprimand CBS Information morning anchor Tony Dokoupil over an interview with writer Ta-Nehisi Coates. CBS Information mentioned Dokoupil had violated editorial requirements when the host pushed Coates on why he did not embody extra of Israel’s perspective on Palestine throughout the interview. Redstone mentioned CBS Information made a “unhealthy mistake.”
“I feel Tony did an ideal job with that interview,” Redstone mentioned in October throughout a panel at Promoting Week New York.