Former 60 Minutes chief Bill Owens is planning to write a scathing tell-all memoir that will take aim at CBS News and Paramount, one year after he resigned from the popular news program.
Owens is set to discuss President Donald Trump’s lawsuit over the editing of former Vice President Kamala Harris’ 60 Minutes interview during the 2024 election, as well as the subsequent settlement, which Owens described as a poor legal strategy. He also reportedly suggested that senior management was prioritizing political affiliation over journalism.
Owens’ separation agreement with the company included a non-disparagement clause, which could potentially be broken depending on the content of his upcoming book. However, no lawsuits have been filed as of yet.
Background
Last year, Owens made the decision to resign after more than 30 years at CBS News, several months before new network boss Bari Weiss took over. Owens told staff in a memo that he was stepping aside so the show could move forward, as he felt he would not be allowed to run the show independently.
CBS News Shakeup
Weiss assumed the role of Editor-in-Chief at CBS News in October 2025 and has been making sweeping changes to programming schedules and staff since then. Anderson Cooper also left his role at 60 Minutes after nearly 20 years. There are fears that Weiss could give the show itself a full rebrand to appeal to a more conservative audience.
A source claims that staff believe the show is being softened and repositioned to appeal to a more conservative audience, with personalities and story choices that are far less confrontational toward conservative politics.
Criticisms of Bari Weiss
Longtime 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley was fired after a heated clash with new executive producer Nick Bilton. Pelley accused Weiss of killing 60 Minutes, saying she was brought in to destroy the show and had no qualifications for her job.
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