Shari Redstone Defends CBS Interview with Coates

Shari Redstone, chair of Paramount Global, publicly defended CBS anchor Tony Dokoupil following his contentious interview with author Ta-Nehisi Coates, which CBS executives claimed violated the network's editorial standards. Redstone praised Dokoupil's handling of the interview, asserting that he exemplified civil discourse and accountability, and disagreed with the reprimands he received from CBS News leadership. Despite lacking editorial control, Redstone expressed her strong feelings about the situation, stating, 'I think we made a mistake' regarding the response to Dokoupil's questioning of Coates on Israel. The interview, which included Dokoupil challenging Coates on his portrayal of Israel in his new book, prompted internal dialogues among CBS staff about the network's commitment to impartiality. Redstone emphasized the importance of challenging guests while also acknowledging the need for proper handling of sensitive topics. This incident reflects ongoing tensions within CBS regarding editorial standards and the role of journalistic inquiry.