Paramount co-CEO George Cheeks said the company needs a “substantive dialogue” about perceived bias and “inconsistent treatment,” following the CBS Morning interview with Ta-Nehisi Coates.
In the interview about Coates' new book, The messagewho argues that Israel's treatment of Palestinians is immoral, host Tony Dokoupil has drawn criticism from some for his pointed questions about Coates' views. In a memo to employees, Cheeks wrote that an editorial meeting should be called to discuss the standards of fairness and objectivity established within the news division.
But he added that hosts should still be allowed to ask tough questions.
“Our anchors and correspondents will continue to ask the toughest questions about the most important and complex issues,” Cheeks wrote.
Full memo below:
There was a strong and growing disagreement within CBS News that needed to be addressed in an editorial meeting. This must lead to further substantive dialogue about perceptions of inconsistent treatment, implicit bias, and the important standards our News division has adopted to establish barriers of fairness and objectivity.
To be clear, this was never about CBS News' right to ask the tough question; this is and always will be the standard. Our guests and correspondents will continue to ask the toughest questions about the most important and complex issues. I'm incredibly proud of CBS News and how they're meeting the moment, even in the most difficult times.
Wendy is an exceptional and experienced leader. She and her leadership team are passionate advocates and stewards of CBS News standards; this will not change. Reasonable minds in a newsroom will appropriately lobby, test and debate internally to ensure balanced and objective coverage externally.
We all move forward from this moment – myself included – committed to reflection, refining the process and doubling down on our commitment to serving the public, when the need for accurate, unbiased news presented in the appropriate context has never been more important.