WRITERS GUILD EAST BLASTS PARAMOUNT SURRENDER OVER CBS 60 MINUTES BROADCAST
The settlement of Trump’s lawsuit against CBS has been sharply criticized by the Writers Guild of America East “as a capitulation to Trump threats to “journalists’ ability to do their job reporting on powerful public figures.”
They have branded the settlement a brazenly “transparent attempt to curry favors with an administration in the hopes it will allow the Paramount (CBS’ parent company) and Skydance Media merger to be cleared for approval.” The settlement calls for Paramount to pay $16 million for Trump’s legal fees and a donation to his future presidential library. The media company also agreed that future 60 Minutes broadcasts with presidential candidates will release transcripts of the interviews “subject to redactions as required for legal or national security concerns.”
Trump sued the network, claiming the 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris during last year’s presidential campaign had been edited to make her look good, causing him “mental anguish.”
“The Writers Guild of America East stands behind the exemplary work of our members at 60 Minutes and CBS News,” said the Guild statement. “We wish their bosses at Paramount Global had the courage to do the same.”
