Paramount Global's decision to settle a lawsuit filed by Donald Trump against the news programme "60 Minutes" with a payment of USD 16 million has sparked outrage across the country - especially among journalists, lawyers and advocates of press freedom. The former president had sued CBS and its parent company Paramount because he felt disadvantaged by the editing of an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 election campaign. Although legal experts consider the lawsuit to be unfounded, Paramount nevertheless decided in favour of a settlement - apparently for political and economic reasons.
The background: Paramount is on the verge of a multi-billion dollar merger with Skydance Media, which requires the approval of the US communications regulator FCC. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, who was appointed by Trump, had launched an investigation into allegations of "news distortion" in this context. Observers see a clear connection here - Paramount apparently did not want to take any risks with the lucrative deal and preferred to end the lawsuit instead of relying on the legally strong protective mechanisms of the First Amendment.
Media veteran Dan Rather, himself once a presenter on "60 Minutes", sharply criticised the decision: "This was a knee-jerk reaction to blackmail by the president," he said. Other voices are also accusing Paramount and other media companies that have made similar settlements with Trump - including ABC, Meta and X (formerly Twitter) - of bowing to intimidation and political pressure instead of standing up for their constitutionally guaranteed rights.
It is particularly bitter that "60 Minutes" has been a symbol of independent journalism for decades - with reports on Watergate, Walter Cronkite's Vietnam War diary or the revelations about Abu Ghraib. For many, the fact that this journalistic flagship is now at the centre of a political deal is a blow to the credibility of the free press.
Insiders emphasise that many journalists within CBS News protested against the agreement and that executives such as Bill Owens and Wendy McMahon left the company in the wake of the conflict. Nevertheless, the message is clear: media companies must fear coming under political and financial pressure in future if they report critically.
The impression that political influence is already having an impact on editorial decisions is also worrying. For example, there are reports that CBS executives influenced the selection of topics for "60 Minutes" prior to the settlement. Other publishers are also said to have backed down for fear of political headwinds, for example when it came to abandoning election recommendations in favour of Kamala Harris.
Lawyers and press freedom organisations warn that if companies capitulate to authoritarian behaviour out of fear of reprisals, it is not only they who lose, but democracy as a whole. The media must not give up their role as the fourth estate in the state - especially when political power tries to silence them.
Variety reports in detail.
Paramount to Pay Trump $16 Million to Settle '60 Minutes' Lawsuit
Paramount's Trump Lawsuit Settlement: Curtain Call for the First Amendment?