CBS Information on Thursday introduced it’s handing the reins of its iconic “60 Minutes” present to longtime insider Tanya Simon — simply weeks after its $16 million settlement with President Trump.
Simon, daughter of the late “60 Minutes” correspondent Bob Simon, has been operating the information journal on an interim foundation since Invoice Owens abruptly give up in April amid a lawsuit from Trump over a controversial interview with Kamala Harris.
She is barely the fourth government producer to run the information journal because it launched within the late Sixties below Don Hewitt’s lead, and the primary lady to take the function.
Her appointment comes as CBS Information proprietor Paramount is attempting to seal a cope with Skydance Media that requires approval from the FCC. Late Thursday, the company gave the greenlight to the $8.4 billion deal.
Skydance – the Hollywood studio behind big-screen hits like “Mission: Impossible” – made guarantees this week to FCC Chair Brendan Carr that it’ll remove DEI practices at CBS Information and appoint an ombudsman to root out media bias on the community.
Trump, in the meantime, boasted that he expects to obtain an extra $20 million from Skydance in promoting and public service bulletins as soon as it takes management of Paramount, confirming an unique report by The Put up.
That will stack on prime of CBS Information’ $16 million fee to settle a lawsuit from Trump over the controversially-edited “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris.
Owens had opposed settling Trump’s lawsuit.
Simons has labored at “60 Minutes” for 25 years and her appointment was strongly supported by outstanding staffers.
All seven of the present correspondents at “60 Minutes” — Lesley Stahl, Scott Pelley, Invoice Whitaker, Anderson Cooper, Sharyn Alfonsi, Jon Wertheim and Cecilia Vega — signed a letter in Could urging Paramount to formally make Simon the present’s government producer, in accordance with the Standing publication.
“Tanya Simon understands what makes ‘60 Minutes’ tick,” Tom Cibrowski, president and government editor of CBS Information, mentioned in a press release Thursday.
“She is an innovative leader, an exceptional producer, and someone who knows how to inspire people.”
Simon has produced for almost all the “60 Minutes” correspondents throughout her time on the community, beforehand serving because the present’s government editor for six seasons.
“It is a privilege to lead ‘60 Minutes’ and its formidable team of journalists,” Simon mentioned in a press release Thursday.
“I look forward to delivering an exciting season of signature 60 stories that cover a wide range of subjects for a broad audience and engage viewers with their world.”
Together with scrapping the information station’s DEI insurance policies, Skydance has additionally vowed to conduct a “comprehensive review” of CBS after the merger goes by to make sure the community is working within the public curiosity.
Its ombudsman will stay in place for not less than two years and can report on to the president of CBS Information with “any complaints of bias or other concerns,” in accordance with copies of letters despatched to the FCC.
In the meantime, CBS final week canceled “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” – eliciting outcry from celebrities and fellow late-night hosts who accused the community of axing the present as a part of its settlement with Trump.
The community mentioned it was “purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night.”
