Former CBS News anchor Connie Chung has issued a stark warning that the recent merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media could mark the end of CBS News as she knew it. Speaking on CNN’s ‘News Central,’ Chung expressed deep concern over the $8 billion merger, which was approved by the FCC with a closing date set for August 7. She argued that the new corporate entity, Paramount Skydance Corp., poses a significant threat to the independence and integrity of journalism.
Chung, who was a part of CBS for decades, lamented the loss of editorial autonomy, which she believes has been compromised by the merger’s influence of corporate interests and potential political pressures. In her critique, she noted that CBS was always a standalone network with a history of autonomy, particularly in its news division that was unencumbered by pressures from politicians, including presidents, and unencumbered by bean counters. Chung, who is now a prominent voice on CNN, expressed that the days of such independence are long gone.
Her concerns were echoed by other journalists and industry insiders, including Jon Stewart, who criticized CBS for canceling ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,’ labeling it as the ‘path of least resistance’ for corporate mergers. Stewart’s comments resonate with those who have accused CBS and Paramount of acquiescing to Trump ahead of the merger through its settlement and cancellations. The backlash extends beyond the media community, with some of CBS’s own staff expressing outrage over the company’s decisions, including the Trump lawsuit settlement and the Colbert cancellation.
Additionally, veteran ’60 Minutes’ producer Rome Hartman accused Paramount of making a ‘cowardly capitulation’ to Trump and a ‘fundamental betrayal’ of CBS News. This sentiment is shared by some members of Congress, including Senators Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Ron Wyden, who sent a letter to Skydance Media CEO David Ellison demanding answers about the Trump settlement and the Colbert cancellation, suggesting that anti-bribery laws may have been broken in the process of obtaining FCC approval for the merger.
Chung’s warnings highlight a broader concern about the impact of corporate consolidation on the media landscape. Her criticism, while directed at the merger, reflects broader anxieties about the future of independent journalism in an era of increasing corporate influence. Chung emphasized the need for a return to the traditional values of journalism, including honesty, objectivity, and editorial autonomy, which she believes are at risk of being lost in the name of profit and political expediency.