The head of the Writers Guild of America East has denounced the management of CBS News under new owner Paramount Skydance, alleging “almost constant levels of editorial interference” in the storied organization.
Tom Fontana, the show host and writer who leads the union, wrote to members on Thursday after CBS News fired the former employee. 60 minutes Reporter Scott Pelley following a clash with leadership in a tense meeting earlier this week. “Like many of you, I have been concerned by recent developments at CBS News,” he wrote, citing recent layoffs and the closing of CBS News Radio in late May.
“In addition, based on a series of public reports and confidential reports from WGAE members, it is clear that CBS officers engaged in a near-constant level of editorial interference that was previously unthinkable,” Fontana said.
Of Bailey, a newsmagazine icon and 37-year veteran of the network, the union said: “CBS management appears to be too weak to handle honest scrutiny of its journalists.”
Bailey was fired by CBS management after taking a new position 60 minutes President Nick Bilton and CBS News Editor-in-Chief Barry Weiss in a heated staff meeting. The journalist said Weiss was “killing” the show. He added: “She doesn’t like this place. She was brought to kill him and she is doing just that.” Billy also told Belton that he has “slim” qualifications for the executive producer role he now holds.
The meeting came after a shift 60 minutes Under Weiss, executive producer Tanya Simon and reporters Cecilia Vega and Sharyn Alfonsi were fired in May.
In his letter, Fontana said the moves represent more than just “ideological interference” in the stories. He said: “They show a deep disdain for the profession of journalism, for our members who have dedicated their lives to informing the public about the world, and for the ethics on which true journalism is based, the most important of which are honesty, integrity and objectivity.”
The union leader concluded his letter by telling CBS News workers that they “are not alone” and that “we will be there with you when this difficult time in American life passes, and we will help you build what comes next.”
Read the full memo below.
My fellow members,
Like many of you, I’m disturbed by recent developments at CBS News. Last year, CBS issued harsh and unnecessary layoffs across the organization and shut down CBS News Radio. In addition, based on a series of public reports and confidential reports from WGAE members, it is clear that CBS officers engaged in a near-constant level of editorial interference that was previously unthinkable.
Over the past few weeks, CBS has laid off or fired several newsroom staffers and journalists, most recently Scott Pelley; CBS management appears to be too weak to handle honest scrutiny of its journalists.
These attacks on CBS News, a nearly century-old American journalistic institution, are more than just ideological intrusion into the news. They show a profound disdain for the profession of journalism, for our members who devote their lives to informing the public about the world, and for the ethics on which true journalism is based, most important of which are honesty, integrity and objectivity.
To our friends and colleagues at CBS News: We see you, and you’re not alone. Thousands of your brothers, sisters and union brothers support you. We stand shoulder to shoulder with you now, and we will be there with you when this difficult time in American life passes, and we will help you build what comes next.
In solidarity,
Tom Fontana
president
Writers Guild of America East
