David Ellison, the new CEO of Paramount, referred to what he called a “challenging period” for CBS News, while praising the division’s “long tradition of impactful reporting,” including the legacy of 60 Minutes.
As Ellison’s Skydance finally completed its merger with Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS, his open letter referred to what has been a turbulent time for the news division.
“We recognize it’s been a challenging period and we’re deeply grateful for your resilience, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to the news business,” Ellison wrote. “We take immense pride in CBS News’ legacy of impactful journalism and look forward to continuing to foster a newsroom culture where journalists are empowered, trusted, and equipped to do their best work.”
The news division was at the center of coverage of regulatory approval of the transaction. After Donald Trump sued 60 Minutes over the way that it edited an interview with Kamala Harris, Paramount initially fought back, characterizing the lawsuit as meritless. But last month, they settled the lawsuit for $16 million, to be paid to Trump’s future presidential library. Later in July, the FCC approved the transaction, after Skydance committed to hiring an ombudsman to take complaints over alleged bias, among other things, as well as viewpoint diversity “across the political and ideological spectrum.”
In the open letter, Ellison did not refer to the Skydance commitments. Instead, he referred to the legacy of the news brand, while praising its journalists.
“CBS News – home to one of the most storied American broadcast journalism legacies in America, including 60 Minutes, with a long tradition of impactful reporting led by seasoned journalists committed to accuracy, integrity, and public trust,” he wrote.
