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July 28, 2025 – USA –
Former CBS Evening News co-anchor Connie Chung has voiced deep alarm over the $8 billion merger of Paramount Global with Skydance Media, recently approved by the FCC and set to finalize on August 7. Chung argued this shift could mark “the end of CBS as I knew it” and a serious blow to independent, fact‑based journalism once personified by icons like Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite.
On CNN, Chung criticized CBS’s transformation under the new ownership, stressing that the news division was formerly “autonomous… unencumbered by pressures from politicians… and bean counters.” But she fears those days are over, citing the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives under Skydance leadership and the installation of a corporate ombudsman to police newsroom bias—reported to be accountable to Skydance CEO David Ellison.
Chung singled out Shari Redstone, Paramount’s longtime controlling executive, along with the Ellisons, for prioritizing “greed” over journalistic integrity and diversity. She warned that the legacy of pioneering CBS journalists—especially women and minorities—may be erased without DEI protections. “I would never have had a glorious career … had it not been for the Civil Rights Act of 1964…in which women and minorities were finally seen as equal,” she said.
Her critique follows heightened industry controversy around CBS’s recent conduct: the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, which critics tied to the merger’s political calculus, alongside a $16 million settlement with former President Trump over a 60 Minutes interview dispute. The settlement—criticized by veteran journalists including Dan Rather as a “sell‑out” and “sad day for journalism”—coincided with Skydance’s push for favorable FCC clearance.
Political voices, including Senators Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and Ron Wyden, have demanded inquiries, suggesting potential violations of anti‑bribery laws connected to the settlement and merger process. Media insiders and talent—including South Park creators and Jon Stewart—have voiced public opposition, warning that the consolidation could chill dissent and creative freedom.
Overall, critics warn that the Paramount‑Skydance merger may dissolve CBS’s editorial independence, hollow out its journalistic tradition, and compromise newsrooms in the pursuit of political and financial leverage.
Reference –
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6376214001112
