CBS tapped a veteran govt to assist sort out “perceived bias” on the Tiffany Community and its flagship present “60 Minutes” – together with Sunday’s report on the conflict in Gaza that critics slammed for being “one-sided” in opposition to Israel.
Susan Zirinsky, a longtime fixer throughout the community, was named govt editor in a job that can have her oversee the Requirements & Practices unit, CBS CEO George Cheeks introduced late Monday.
Zirinsky, a legendary CBS producer who additionally served because the information division’s president from 2019 to 2021, will assist the community “ship balanced, correct, truthful and well timed reporting,” together with on “extremely advanced, delicate points just like the conflict within the Center East,” Cheeks stated in his memo.
“CBS Information takes this duty critically. Whereas there is no such thing as a method to cowl such delicate points with out upsetting some extent of criticism, we now have a duty to handle these issues,” Cheeks stated. “This contains suggestions concerning perceived bias in some CBS Information protection.”
Her appointment comes because the community faces intense scrutiny over bias claims made by President-elect Donald Trump over allegedly enhancing a “60 Minutes” interview with Vice President Kamala Harris to make her sound coherent — and the likelihood that his decide to chair the Federal Communications Fee may delay the pending merger of CBS-parent Paramount International and Skydance Media, as The Put up solely reported.
Sources near Zirinsky stated her new function won’t embody a overview on what the community has finished improper however will as an alternative sort out the journalism throughout its varied exhibits “going ahead.”
CBS and Zirinsky didn’t remark.
On Monday, “60 Minutes” landed in sizzling water once more after the American Jewish Committee slammed CBS for airing a section titled “Dissent throughout the State Division over the US function in Israel-Hamas Battle.”
The advocacy group stated the piece that aired Sunday was “shockingly one-sided, lacked factual accuracy, and relied closely on misguided data.”
It cited claims that Israel is obstructing assist into Gaza, which has been refuted, and omitted blame of Hamas terrorists for “beginning and perpetuating the conflict.”
It additionally relied on interviews from former officers Josh Paul and Hala Rharrit, who claimed the US has been “complicit” in serving to Israel to hold out alleged violations of worldwide legislation and saying American weapons transfers have enabled “devastation” in Gaza that the administration has ignored.
The AJC stated the section omitted key particulars concerning the interviewees, together with their connections to CAIR, the Muslim advocacy group whose chief, Nihad Awad, has stated that he was “glad to see” Hamas’ terror assaults and argued that Israel doesn’t have a “proper to self-defense.”
His feedback had been denounced by The White Home as “stunning” and “antisemitic” final month.
Jonathan Greenblatt, the CEO and nationwide director of the Anti-Defamation League, stated on X Monday that he was “outraged” CBS Information “would air such a biased and one-sided piece, villainizing Israel and berating US assist for its ally.”
“‘60 Minutes’ is meant to be the gold normal for broadcast journalism, however they fully dropped the ball final evening,” Greenblatt added. “The place are the counter views to these interviewed? The place is the point out of the practically 100 hostages — together with Individuals — STILL in captivity!? What sort of journalism is that?”
Folks acquainted with the scenario instructed The Put up that CBS Information president Wendy McMahon has been looking for an govt editor since December however the newest gaffe has pushed prime brass to get somebody within the function instantly.
Zirinsky, who started her profession at CBS Information in 1972, will seize the function on an interim foundation and proceed to run the community’s documentary unit, “See It Now Studios.”
The community was additionally embroiled in one other scandal in October involving “CBS Mornings” co-host Tony Dokoupil’s heated interview with Ta-Nehisi Coates.
Dokoupil, who transformed to Judiaism, grilled Coates on whether or not his new guide expressed antipathy towards Israel. On October 7, the anniversary of Hamas’ assault, CBS Information execs instructed staffers Dokoupil’s report failed to satisfy the community’s requirements.