Streamers Under Fire: Ex-60 Minutes Producer Alleges Political Bias in Industry Shun
Bill Owens, formerly of 60 Minutes, shared his struggles in finding new employment after his departure, attributing rejections from streaming companies to his opposition to Trump's meddling in the media. He suggested that potential employers had already 'paid their tribute to Trump,' impacting their hiring decisions.
Veteran producer Bill Owens recently reflected on the challenging aftermath of his departure from the acclaimed news program 60 Minutes last year. Owens shared his insights at the inaugural Jupiter Festival Miami, revealing that his staunch opposition to former President Trump's perceived interference in the media landscape had significantly impacted his career prospects.
Following his exit from 60 Minutes, Owens engaged in numerous discussions with various streaming platforms, all eager to meet with him. However, despite initial interest, every meeting followed a similar pattern of eventual rejection. Owens recounted, “Every meeting was the same. At the end they’re like, ‘Hey, we really appreciate what you did, et cetera, et cetera, but we could never work with you.'”
Owens candidly expressed his suspicion regarding the true motivation behind these rejections. He theorized that these companies were hesitant to hire him because, in his words, “they had already paid their tribute to Trump.” This statement suggests Owens believes that a prevailing political climate or a desire to appease certain political factions influenced the hiring decisions of potential employers, effectively sidelining individuals like himself who had publicly opposed such influences.