Trump settlement triggers 'widespread distress' at CBS News
Paramount's agreement to pay $16m (R280m) to resolve a civil suit over what Trump alleged was the network's deceptive editing of an interview with presidential candidate Kamala Harris sets a dangerous precedent that threatens the free press, journalism advocates warned.
One 60 Minutes employee who spoke with Reuters said that during a call on Wednesday, newsroom staff expressed 'widespread distress' about the settlement and concerns about the future of the CBS News prime time news magazine and its hard-hitting brand of journalism.
The staffer, who requested anonymity to speak publicly about his employer, said while CBS News avoided the worst outcome in its settlement with Trump — an apology — the agreement nonetheless sets a 'horrible precedent' in agreeing to make public transcripts of future interviews with presidential candidates. The settlement follows ABC News's decision in December to pay $15m (R262.7m) to settle a defamation lawsuit over anchor George Stephanopoulos's on-air description of the president's conduct in the E. Jean Carroll case.
'With two major network owners bowing to the president in quick succession, the danger is clear: emboldened politicians and powerful actors will feel more free than ever to weaponise lawsuits and bring regulatory pressure to bear to silence and censor independent journalism,' said Tim Richardson, journalism and disinformation programme director at free-speech advocate PEN America.
On Wednesday, US Senator Elizabeth Warren called for an investigation into the settlement, which will be paid to a fund supporting Trump's future presidential library, and said she will soon introduce legislation to 'rein in corruption through presidential library donations'.
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