There has always been a bit of a love/hate relationship between the White House and the media – both print and broadcast -; but the current administration has a particular hateful animosity when it comes to the media.
First news outlet Associated Press was banned from the all White House press briefings and “Voice of America” is among the agencies and organizations under the chopping block. Now he has gone after the long standing CBS news show “60 Minutes” with two law suits over their coverage of some stories.
In the light of recent events, executive producer Bill Owens has resigned; saying, “he’s losing the freedom to run it independently.”
He added that it has, “become clear that I would not be allowed to run the show as I have always run it, to make independent decisions based on what was right for ’60 Minutes,’ right for the audience.”
Owens noted, “the show is too important to the country,” he wrote. “It has to continue, just not with me as the executive producer.”
Owens is a 37 year veteran of CBS, 25 of them with “60 Minutes”. He is only the third executive producer at “60 Minutes”.
In his memo Ownes stated, “having defended this show — and what we stand for — from every angle, over time with everything I could, I am stepping aside so the show can move forward.”
CBS News top executive Wendy McMahon spoke on Owens saying he, “has led ‘60 Minutes’ with unwavering integrity, curiosity and a deep commitment to the truth. He has championed the kind of journalism that informs, enlightens and often changes the national conversation.”
Unclear whether the resignation is voluntary or not; Owens and McMahon agree that the independently run “60 Minutes” should be replaced with a current producer on the show.