Owen’s decision to leave 60 Minutes due to a threat to journalistic independence

Learn more about Owens and his decision to leave the 60 Minutes program below.

Owens is a veteran journalist who served as executive producer of the 60 Minutes program on CBS from February 2019 until his resignation in April 2025. He joined CBS News in 1988 and held various positions, including senior producer and executive editor. Under his leadership, 60 Minutes maintained its status as one of the most-watched news programs in America, receiving numerous awards for its investigative journalism.

Owens left 60 Minutes citing concerns about diminishing journalistic independence. In a memo to staff, he stated that he could no longer make autonomous editorial decisions due to increasing corporate control, especially as CBS’s parent company, Paramount Global, sought approval for a merger under the Trump administration. Owens emphasized that he was leaving so the program could continue without compromising its journalistic standards.

Specific details about Owens’s salary were not publicly disclosed. However, considering his role as executive producer of the 60 Minutes program and its significance, it is likely that his compensation was substantial