Following CBS's airing of different parts of Kamala Harris's answer to a "60 Minutes" question, former staffers are demanding an external investigation into the editing controversy.
CBS News finds itself embroiled in a growing controversy over its editing of Vice President Kamala Harris's response to a question about Israel during its "60 Minutes" election special. The network's decision to air two different versions of Harris's answer—one on Monday's primetime special and a shorter, more favorable cut on Tuesday—has drawn widespread criticism.
Former CBS News staffers are now adding their voices to the chorus of outrage, calling on the network to launch an external probe into the editing process.
CBS's Editing Controversy: Former Staffers Demand External Probe
"If they care about journalistic integrity, they would conduct an investigation or, at the very least, release the full transcript," one former CBS News journalist told The New York Post.
The controversy erupted after CBS aired a highly edited clip of Harris's exchange with correspondent Bill Whitaker. The primetime version omitted Harris's initial hesitation and stumbling response, making it appear more polished and favorable. However, a preview clip of the unedited exchange, which was widely circulated on social media, revealed a more unflattering portrayal of Harris's response.
CBS's Editing Controversy: Former Staffers Demand External Probe
The Post reports that CBS sources have suggested the network bring back Al Ortiz, its former standards and practices executive director, to conduct an outside review. Ortiz retired in 2012 after 43 years at CBS.
CBS News has not yet responded to requests for comment on the controversy.
CBS's Editing Controversy: Former Staffers Demand External Probe
The former CBS News staffers who are calling for an external investigation argue that the network's credibility and impartiality have been compromised by the edited clip.
"Their credibility has been called into question and their impartiality has been called into question," a second source told The Post. "Don’t you need a full-throated review of what went wrong?"
CBS's Editing Controversy: Former Staffers Demand External Probe
The controversy comes at a time when trust in the media is already at a low ebb. A recent Gallup poll found that only 34% of Americans have a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in television news. The CBS News editing controversy is likely to further erode public trust in the network.
In addition to the ethical concerns raised by the editing, the controversy has also sparked legal questions. Some experts argue that CBS News may have violated the Federal Communications Commission's fairness doctrine, which requires broadcasters to provide equal time to candidates for public office.
The FCC has not yet announced whether it will investigate the matter.
