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"CBS Evening News" lead anchor Tony Dokoupil defended his relationship with CBS and Paramount amid ongoing controversies surrounding the "60 Minutes" firings.
Dokoupil spoke to The Wall Street Journal on Monday after the wave of high-profile departures at the network, particularly on the long-running "60 Minutes" program. Tensions within the network reached a new high earlier this month after correspondent Scott Pelley was fired following a bitter clash with the network's editor-in-chief Bari Weiss and new "60 Minutes" executive producer Nick Bilton.
Though Pelley accused Weiss of "murdering" his program, Dokoupil said that he did not share the same anger towards leadership interference regarding his show.
"CBS Evening News" host Tony Dokoupil gave an interview with The Wall Street Journal about his experience with CBS. (Michele Crowe/Getty Images )
"When they make comments like that, I pay attention," Dokoupil said. "But I can only speak for what’s happening on this side of the street, and it’s not the experience that I’ve had."
He added, "When it comes to Bari Weiss, she’s the editor-in-chief, she runs a 9 a.m. meeting and has lots of ideas. When we like the idea, we use it. If we don’t, and if it doesn’t work for our show, we don’t."
Pelley and other former CBS correspondents have accused CBS and its parent company, Paramount, of changing the network's standards to appeal to President Donald Trump. Others have expressed concerns over Paramount CEO David Ellison, who appointed Weiss to her position, and his amicable relationship with the president.
CBS has come under fire for recent firings from its "60 Minutes" program. (Al Drago/Getty Images)
Dokoupil clarified that he had "never met David Ellison" and that he doubted that Ellison would influence his show.
"He’s never had a comment about my show. He’s never called me to complain about coverage. If he tried to, it wouldn’t have an impact," Dokoupil said.
Fox News Digital reached out to CBS and Paramount for comment.
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Dokoupil was reportedly handpicked by Weiss to lead "CBS Evening News" and began his run in January. Ahead of his first broadcast, Dokoupil encouraged viewers to hold him accountable for his broadcasts after acknowledging that people have lost trust in the media.
CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss selected Tony Dokoupil as the new anchor of "CBS Evening News" earlier this year. (Michael Tessier/CBS)
He continued to express concerns over the failing trust in the media in his interview with The Wall Street Journal.
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"I think all journalism has a trust problem," Dokoupil said. "If we’re the yogurt industry, and 70% of people didn’t trust yogurt, it would be a crisis. I think it’s a crisis for journalism."
Lindsay Kornick is an associate editor for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected] and on Twitter: @lmkornick.
