Wendy McMahon, president and co-head of CBS Information and Stations.
Michele Crowe | CBS | Getty Photos
CBS Information Chief Govt Officer Wendy McMahon introduced Monday she is stepping down, the most recent twist in a rising battle of wills between the corporate’s information division and Paramount World controlling shareholder Shari Redstone.
Paramount World co-CEO George Cheeks talked with McMahon on Saturday and requested for her resignation, in response to folks conversant in the matter. McMahon agreed to step down, and the Paramount World board held a gathering Sunday at which members had been made conscious of the choice, in response to these folks, who spoke on the situation of anonymity to debate inner issues.
Spokespeople for McMahon, Paramount World and CBS Information declined to remark.
“The previous few months have been difficult,” McMahon wrote in her resignation letter to workers. “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.”
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, in response to folks conversant in the matter. Veteran “60 Minutes” govt producer Invoice Owens resigned in April, saying Paramount World’s elevated scrutiny of his editorial choices infringed on his journalistic independence.
“Our mother or father firm Paramount is making an attempt to finish a merger,” Scott Pelley, a “60 Minutes” correspondent, mentioned on air on the finish of an episode April 27, 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 sincere journalism requires.”
“60 Minutes” aired its remaining episode of the season Sunday. It will not have new episodes once more till September. McMahon felt she needed to combat to even get “60 Minutes” to air in any respect in current weeks, given the board’s choice that sure tales not run, in response to folks conversant in her considering.
McMahon was appointed CEO in August 2023.
There have additionally been a number of factors of pressure between McMahon and Redstone in current months, together with CBS’ 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 over “equity and steadiness” points, in response to folks conversant in Redstone’s considering.
Redstone has additionally been sad with McMahon’s management and the efficiency of CBS Information from a enterprise perspective, in response to folks conversant in Redstone’s considering.
Merging with Skydance
Paramount World is making an attempt 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 rivalry between the federal company and the corporate is company range initiatives, The Wall Road Journal reported in April. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has publicly urged media firms to curb range, fairness and inclusion packages.
In February, Paramount mentioned it could finish its DEI insurance policies, citing an govt order by President Donald Trump banning the observe within the federal authorities and demanding that companies examine personal firms over their DEI packages.
In October, Redstone publicly criticized McMahon’s choice 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 the battle in Gaza through the interview. Redstone mentioned CBS Information made a “dangerous mistake.”
“I believe Tony did an important job with that interview,” Redstone mentioned in October throughout a panel at Promoting Week New York.
