Wendy McMahon has introduced her resignation because the president and CEO of CBS Information and Stations, the most recent departure from the community amid the pending acquisition by Skydance.
McMahon wrote to staffers, “Championing and supporting the journalism produced by essentially the most wonderful stations and bureaus on the planet, celebrating the successes of our exhibits and our manufacturers, elevating our tales and our folks … It has been a privilege and pleasure.
“On the similar time, the previous few months have been difficult. It’s change into clear that the corporate and I don’t agree on the trail ahead. It’s time for me to maneuver on and for this group to maneuver ahead with new management.”
Her exit comes because the community has been in negotiations with Donald Trump’s crew over a settlement of a $20 billion lawsuit he filed over the way in which that 60 Minutes edited an interview with Kamala Harris. Many authorized consultants see the lawsuit as with out advantage, however Paramount International is searching for the administration’s approval over the Skydance merger.
McMahon was seen as a defender of the information division — and 60 Minutes — amid the company tumult. Final month, the chief producer of 60 Minutes, Invoice Owens, exited his function, citing company interference. 60 Minutes has continued to provide onerous hitting segments on the Trump administration.
Even within the wake of Owens’ exit, CBS Information staffers have been bracing for extra footwear to drop amid the expectation that Paramount International and Skydance would settle.
George Cheeks, the co-CEO of Paramount International and president and CEO of CBS, wrote in a memo to staffers that CBS Information president Tom Cibrowski and CBS Stations president Jennifer Mitchell would now report back to him. He mentioned that McMahon can be with the community for a number of extra weeks “to help the transition.”
McMahon additionally oversaw CBS Media Ventures. Cheeks wrote that Scott Trupchak, head of promoting gross sales, and John Budkins, who oversees programming and manufacturing, will now report back to Bryon Rubin, the community’s chief working officer and CFO.
Cheeks wrote, “In a quickly altering world, Wendy and her groups have labored diligently to articulate a imaginative and prescient and lay a basis that adapts our information operations for the long run. This consists of developments in knowledge journalism, group journalism, know-how and centralizing editorial selections to assist groups transfer quicker.”
McMahon was named president and co-head of a mixed CBS Information and Stations in 2021, together with Neeraj Khemlani. When Khemlani departed in 2023, she turned sole chief of the divisions, combining that with oversight of home syndication.
Final yr, McMahon and then-CBS Information President Adrienne Roark rebuked CBS Mornings anchor Tony Dokoupil over the way in which that he dealt with an interview with writer Ta-Nehisi Coates, on the present to advertise a ebook that was essential of Israel’s therapy of Palestinians. However Shari Redstone, the controlling shareholder of Paramount International, known as out the CBS Information management for his or her dealing with of the incident, saying that Dokoupil “did an incredible job with that interview.”
The 60 Minutes interview with Harris is also the topic of a conservative group’s criticism on the FCC, which is contemplating the Skydance-Paramount International transaction. The criticism was initially dismissed by the company beneath Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, who was appointed by President Joe Biden, but it surely was revived by her successor, Brendan Carr, appointed by Trump.
FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, a Democrat, wrote on X that McMahon’s departure was “past alarming.”
“Impartial journalists are being silenced just because their reporting might threaten the ambitions of their company house owners,” she wrote. “It’s going to solely embolden an Administration hell-bent on censoring speech and controlling content material.”
The consternation over a possible settlement of the Trump lawsuit has unfold past the information division. Final week, as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) guested on The Late Present with Stephen Colbert, Colbert requested him a couple of letter he and different senators despatched to Redstone in regards to the risks of settling the Trump lawsuit.
“What impact would settling one thing like which have?” Colbert requested.
“To offer in to Trump is to permit him to say, ‘I gotcha. Anyone who speaks up in opposition to me, you’re in hassle,’” Sanders mentioned.
McMahon’s memo to staffers is under:
Hello everybody,
At the moment, I’m stepping down from my place as president and CEO of CBS Information and Stations and CBS Media Ventures.
This has been probably the most significant chapters in my profession. Main this extraordinary group has been the respect of a lifetime as a result of I set to work alongside all of you. Your dedication to fact, equity and the best requirements is unassailable.
Championing and supporting the journalism produced by essentially the most wonderful stations and bureaus on the planet, celebrating the successes of our exhibits and our manufacturers, elevating our tales and our folks … It has been a privilege and pleasure.
On the similar time, the previous few months have been difficult. It’s change into clear that the corporate and I don’t agree on the trail ahead. It’s time for me to maneuver on and for this group to maneuver ahead with new management.
I’ve spent the previous few months shoring up our companies and ensuring the fitting leaders are in place; and I’ve little question they may proceed to set the usual.
You might be in extremely good arms with Tom, Jennifer, John, Matt and Robert. They’re phenomenal leaders and individuals who will proceed to guard and have a good time your work. I’m positive of it.
To George: Thanks for this chance.
To our viewers: Thanks in your belief. You maintain us accountable, and also you remind us why this work issues.
To the CBS Information and Stations and CMV groups: Thanks in your ardour, your professionalism and your partnership. It has been a privilege to stroll this path with you.
Wendy
