Shari Redstone says CBS "made a bad mistake" in its handling of testy interview
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Left to right: Axios' Sara Fischer interviews Paramount Global chair Shari Redstone and ATTN: CEO Matthew Segal. Photo: Rachel Azulay
Paramount Global chair Shari Redstone has publicly condemned CBS News' handling of a terse interview "CBS Mornings" co-anchor Tony Dokoupil had with author Ta-Nehisi Coates about the Israel-Palestine conflict, with Redstone saying, "We made a bad mistake."
Why it matters: Redstone rarely speaks out about any of CBS' editorial decisions — let alone disputes them, but the issue hits close to home for her.
- "As hard as it was, frankly, for me to go against the company — because I love this company and I believe in it and I think we have a great, great executive team — I think they made a mistake here," Redstone told Axios in an interview on stage at an event in New York on Wednesday.
- "I was very proud of the work that he did," she said, referencing Dokoupil's interview.
Catch up quick: CBS News' editorial leaders told staff Monday that an interview conducted last week by Dokoupil did not meet the network's editorial standards.
- Dokoupil pressed Coates about his pro-Palestinian stance in his latest book, "The Message," suggesting that his writing neglected the Israeli perspective.
- It was not immediately clear to many in the journalism community and at CBS News which — if any — editorial standards Dokoupil breached. The newsroom's leadership ultimately decided not to pursue any disciplinary action against Dokoupil.
Zoom in: Redstone acknowledged that she doesn't have editorial control over CBS News' decisions, but said she doesn't hesitate to use her voice to speak out about issues she cares about.
- "I frankly think Tony did a great job with that interview," she said. "I think he handled himself and showed the world and role-modeled what civil discourse is. He showed that there was accountability, that there is a system of checks and balances."
- She added that she's been in touch with the woman who does a lot of CBS' diversity training and said, "I think we all agree that this was not handled correctly, and we all agree that something needs to be done."
The big picture: Dokoupil's interview, landing roughly one year after the Oct. 7 massacre by Hamas, reignited tensions within the news industry over the media's responsibility in covering the Israel-Hamas war.
- American media has historically sided with Israel during times of geo-political tension in the Middle East. But the war with Hamas has tested that precedent.
Between the lines: Redstone believes one of the reasons antisemitism is on the rise is because "we have lost the ability to have civil discourse."
- She was "very glad" CBS News had Coates on the network to discuss his point of view, she said, but pressed that "we have to also provide the opportunity to challenge him on what he says, just like we challenge everybody else."
What's next: After striking an agreement to sell Paramount for more than $8 billion earlier this summer, Redstone says she will focus her career on combatting antisemitism and encouraging civic discourse through education.
- Most of that work will be done through philanthropic ventures, but she's also working on a few business projects that help advance those causes through media and content, she said.
Go deeper: Exclusive: Shari Redstone's next act
