The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is maintaining its investigation into CBS News regarding alleged news distortion related to Vice President Kamala Harris’s interview on the program “60 Minutes.” This inquiry persists despite the recent settlement of a lawsuit involving former President Donald Trump and the approval of CBS’s merger with Skydance Media.
The investigation centers on the editing of Harris’s interview, which aired in October 2020, just weeks before the presidential election. Trump’s lawsuit claimed that CBS News manipulated the footage to portray Harris in a more favorable light, a claim he characterized as “election interference.” In contrast, CBS argued that the edits were standard practice for enhancing clarity and brevity.
Initially, a complaint regarding the interview was dismissed by the FCC under President Biden’s administration. However, the situation shifted with the appointment of FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr by Trump. Carr reactivated the complaint and launched a formal investigation into potential “news distortion,” which has now been ongoing for several months.
During an interview with CNBC, Carr addressed accusations from some Democratic senators and comedian Stephen Colbert that CBS’s settlement with Trump, amounting to $16 million, was a “bribe” to facilitate the merger approval. Carr emphasized that the approval was contingent on Skydance Media’s commitment to uphold unbiased journalism.
Ongoing Investigation and Merger Implications
As part of this commitment, Skydance has agreed to implement measures aimed at ensuring editorial impartiality at CBS News, including appointing an ombudsman for two years. Despite the resolution of the merger and Trump’s lawsuit, Carr confirmed that the news distortion investigation remains active.
“There was this lawsuit involving President Trump, which was outside of the FCC, didn’t have anything to do with us,” Carr stated. “We had this transaction before us, and we also have a news distortion complaint against CBS. The news distortion complaint is still pending at the FCC, and we haven’t made a final decision on that.”
The editing of Harris’s interview has sparked ongoing debates about bias in media. Critics have long accused CBS News, particularly its flagship program “60 Minutes,” of exhibiting a liberal bias. In light of these accusations, Skydance’s written commitment to unbiased journalism is intended to address concerns regarding CBS’s editorial practices.
While the FCC has previously considered revoking broadcast licenses in cases of serious violations, it is unclear if such an extreme measure would be taken against CBS News. In the past, the FCC has imposed fines, such as the $550,000 penalty against CBS for a controversial incident during the Super Bowl in 2004.
The current investigation could result in penalties for CBS News, including potential fines or other measures aimed at ensuring balance in its programming.
Future of the Investigation and Advertisements
There is speculation that the FCC may require CBS to air conservative advertisements or public service announcements as part of resolving the complaints. Trump’s comments on social media suggested he anticipates receiving an additional $20 million in advertising or related programming from CBS, indicating expectations that the FCC may mandate such actions to address perceptions of bias.
The backdrop of this investigation raises questions about the future of journalistic standards and the impact of political affiliations on media practices. As CBS News navigates these challenges, the outcome of the FCC’s ongoing inquiry could have significant implications for the network’s operations and credibility.
With the merger now in place and commitments to unbiased journalism being made, it remains to be seen how CBS News will adapt to the scrutiny of its editorial choices in the coming months. As the public and stakeholders await the FCC’s final decision, the conversation around media integrity and accountability continues to gain momentum.
