Wendy McMahon has announced her resignation as the president and CEO of CBS News and Stations, the latest departure from the network amid the pending acquisition by Skydance.
It’s become clear that the company and I do not agree on the path forward.
McMahon was seen as a defender of the news division — and 60 Minutes — amid the corporate tumult and Trump’s attacks.
Last month, the executive producer of 60 Minutes, Bill Owens, exited his role, citing corporate interference.
George Cheeks, the co-CEO of Paramount Global and president and CEO of CBS, wrote in a memo to staffers that CBS News president Tom Cibrowski and CBS Stations president Jennifer Mitchell would now report to him.
As the network prepares to be acquired by Skydance, Wendy McMahon has announced her resignation as president and CEO of CBS News and Stations.
In a letter to employees, McMahon wrote, “It has been a privilege and a joy to support and champion the journalism produced by the most incredible stations and bureaus in the world, to celebrate the successes of our shows and our brands, to elevate our stories and our people.
The previous few months have been difficult, though. It’s now evident that I disagree with the company’s direction for the future. I need to move on, and this organization needs new leadership to continue moving forward. “.”.
Her departure coincides with the network’s negotiations with Donald Trump’s team to reach a settlement in a $20 billion lawsuit he filed against the network for editing an interview with Kamala Harris. Although many legal experts believe the lawsuit has no merit, Paramount Global is requesting the administration’s approval of the Skydance merger.
In the midst of the corporate turmoil and Trump’s attacks, McMahon was perceived as a supporter of the news division and 60 Minutes. Bill Owens, 60 Minutes’ executive producer, resigned from his position last month, claiming corporate meddling. Hard-hitting segments on the Trump administration have been a regular feature of 60 Minutes.
Even after Owens left, CBS News employees were expecting more shoes to fall because they thought Paramount Global and Skydance would reach an agreement.
According to a senior employee who wished to remain anonymous, McMahon’s departure was not shocking considering Owens’ departure. Noting that 60 Minutes concluded its most recent season on Sunday, the staffer stated, “It indicates that they are probably closer to a settlement.” This meant that McMahon had endured more Trump attacks regarding the show’s content.
George Cheeks, the president and CEO of CBS and co-CEO of Paramount Global, informed employees in a memo that Jennifer Mitchell, president of CBS Stations, and Tom Cibrowski, president of CBS News, would now report to him. McMahon will remain with the network for a few more weeks “to support the transition,” he stated. “.”.
Cheeks wrote, “Wendy and her teams have worked hard to articulate a vision and lay a foundation that adapts our news operations for the future in a world that is changing quickly. This includes technological developments, community journalism, data journalism, and the centralization of editorial choices to facilitate teamwork. “”.
Together with Neeraj Khemlani, McMahon was appointed president and co-head of a merged CBS News and Stations in 2021. After Khemlani left in 2023, she took over as the divisions’ only leader and was also in charge of domestic syndication.
As a result of Tony Dokoupil’s handling of an interview with author Ta-Nehisi Coates on CBS Mornings to promote a book that criticized Israel’s treatment of Palestinians, McMahon and then-CBS News President Adrienne Roark chastised him last year. Shari Redstone, Paramount Global’s controlling shareholder, criticized CBS News’ management for their response to the incident, stating that Dokoupil “did a great job with that interview.”. “”.
At the FCC, which is examining the Skydance-Paramount Global deal, a conservative group has also filed a complaint about the 60-minute interview with Harris. Under Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, who was appointed by President Joe Biden, the complaint was first rejected by the agency; however, it was resurrected by Brendan Carr, who was appointed by President Trump.
The Democratic FCC Commissioner, Anna Gomez, described McMahon’s exit as “beyond alarming” in a post on X. “.”.
The author wrote, “Independent journalists are being silenced simply because their reporting may threaten the ambitions of their corporate owners.”. It will only give more confidence to an administration that is determined to control content and censor speech. “”.
Outside of the news division, there is widespread concern about a possible settlement of the Trump lawsuit. The week before, as Sen. During his appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) was questioned by Colbert regarding a letter he and other senators had sent to Redstone regarding the risks of resolving the Trump lawsuit.
Colbert inquired, “What impact would settling something like that have?”.
Trump can say, ‘I gotcha,’ if you give in to him. “You’re in trouble if you speak out against me,” Sanders said.
The following is McMahon’s memo to staff members.
Hello everyone.
I’m leaving my role as president and CEO of CBS News and Stations and CBS Media Ventures today.
In my career, this has been one of the most significant periods. I have had the privilege of working with each and every one of you, which has made leading this remarkable organization an honor of a lifetime. There is no denying your unwavering dedication to justice, truth, and the highest standards.
It has been a privilege and a joy to support and champion the journalism produced by the world’s most incredible stations and bureaus, to celebrate the successes of our shows and brands, to elevate our stories and our people.
The previous few months have also been difficult. It’s now evident that I disagree with the company’s direction for the future. I need to move on, and this organization needs new leadership to continue moving forward.
I’ve been strengthening our companies and ensuring that the right people are in charge for the past few months, and I’m confident that they will keep setting the bar high.
Together with Tom, Jennifer, John, Matt, and Robert, you are in very capable hands. They will continue to defend and honor your work because they are outstanding leaders. I’m positive.
To George: I appreciate this chance.
To our audience: We appreciate your confidence. You remind us why this work is important and you hold us accountable.
We appreciate your dedication, professionalism, and collaboration, CBS News and Stations, and CMV teams. It has been an honor to accompany you on this journey.
Wendy.
