Editing CBS (section)

==Controversies==

===Brown & Williamson interview===
In 1995, CBS refused to air a ''[[60 Minutes]]'' segment that featured an interview with a former president of research and development for [[Brown & Williamson]], the U.S.'s third largest tobacco company. The controversy raised questions about the legal roles in decision-making and whether journalistic standards should be compromised despite legal pressures and threats. The decision nevertheless sent shockwaves throughout the television industry, the journalism community, and the country.<ref>{{cite journal|title=The 60 Minutes controversy: What lawyers are telling the news media|url=http://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?collection=journals&handle=hein.journals/coml18&div=18&id=&page=|author=Joseph A. Russomannno|author2=Kyo Ho. Youm|journal=Communications and the Law|volume=18|issue=3|page=65|date=September 1996|access-date=April 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018015420/http://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?collection=journals&handle=hein.journals%2Fcoml18&div=18&id=&page=|archive-date=October 18, 2017|url-status=live}}{{subscription required}}</ref> This incident was the basis for the 1999 [[Michael Mann (director)|Michael Mann]]-directed drama film, ''[[The Insider (film)|The Insider]]''.

===Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy===
{{main|Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy}}
In 2004, the Federal Communications Commission imposed a record $550,000 fine, the largest fine ever for a violation of federal decency laws, against CBS for an incident during its broadcast of [[Super Bowl XXXVIII]] in which singer [[Janet Jackson]]'s right breast (which was partially covered by a piece of nipple jewelry) was briefly and accidentally exposed by guest performer [[Justin Timberlake]] at the end of a duet performance of Timberlake's 2003 single "[[Rock Your Body]]" during the [[halftime show]] (produced by then sister cable network [[MTV]]).<ref>{{cite news|title=CBS Apologizes for Jackson Breast-Flash |url=http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/SUPER_BOWL_JACKSON?SITE=CACRU&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT |agency=Associated Press |date=February 2, 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040202201416/http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/SUPER_BOWL_JACKSON?SITE=CACRU&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT |archive-date=February 2, 2004 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Following the incident, CBS apologized to its viewers and denied foreknowledge of the incident, which was televised live. The incident resulted in a period of increased regulation of broadcast television and radio outlets (including self-imposed content regulation by networks and syndicators), which raised concerns surrounding [[censorship]] and [[freedom of speech]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Timberlake apologizes for revealing Super Bowl|url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Music/02/08/timberlake.jackson/index.html|work=CNN|date=February 8, 2004|access-date=March 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006104458/http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Music/02/08/timberlake.jackson/index.html|archive-date=October 6, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> and resulted in the FCC voting to increase its maximum fine for indecency violations from US$27,500 to US$325,000.<ref name="Washington Post FCC Final Fine">{{cite news|title=The Price for On-Air Indecency Goes Up|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/07/AR2006060700287.html|author=Frank Ahrens|newspaper=The Washington Post|page=D1|date=June 8, 2006|access-date=August 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922210031/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/07/AR2006060700287.html|archive-date=September 22, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2008, a Philadelphia federal court annulled the fine imposed on CBS, labeling it "arbitrary and capricious".<ref>{{cite news |title=Janet Jackson's Breast Freed, This Time by Court |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&sid=aKVPpRZ9A3tE |author=Ann Woolner |work=[[Bloomberg L.P.]] |date=July 25, 2008 |access-date=July 25, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080730165215/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&sid=aKVPpRZ9A3tE&refer=home |archive-date=July 30, 2008  }}</ref>

===Killian documents controversy===
{{main|Killian documents controversy}}
On September 8, 2004, less than two months before the [[2004 United States presidential election|Presidential election]] in which he defeated [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] candidate [[John Kerry]], CBS aired a controversial episode of ''[[60 Minutes II|60 Minutes Wednesday]]'', which questioned then-President [[George W. Bush]]'s service in the [[Air National Guard]] in 1972 and 1973.<ref>{{cite news|title=New Questions On Bush Guard Duty, 60 Minutes Has Newly Obtained Documents On President's Military Service|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-questions-on-bush-guard-duty-08-09-2004/|author=Rebecca Leung|work=CBS News|date=September 8, 2004|access-date=March 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180304185609/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-questions-on-bush-guard-duty-08-09-2004/|archive-date=March 4, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Following allegations of forgery, CBS News admitted that four of the documents used in the story had not been properly authenticated and admitted that their source, Bill Burkett, had admitted to having "deliberately misled" a CBS News producer who worked on the report, about the documents' origins out of a confidentiality promise to the actual source.<ref>{{cite news|title=CBS Statement On Bush Memos|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cbs-statement-on-bush-memos/|last=Murphy|first=Jarrett|work=[[CBS News]]|date=February 11, 2009|access-date=July 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813145900/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/cbs-statement-on-bush-memos/|archive-date=August 13, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18982-2004Sep13.html|title=Expert Cited by CBS Says He Didn't Authenticate Papers|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|last1=Dobbs|first1=Michael|last2=Kurtz|first2=Howard|date=September 14, 2004|access-date=July 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170602140157/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18982-2004Sep13.html|archive-date=June 2, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The following January, CBS fired four people connected to the preparation of the segment.<ref>{{cite news|title=CBS Ousts 4 For Bush Guard Story|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cbs-ousts-4-for-bush-guard-story-10-01-2005/|last=Murphy|first=Jarrett|work=[[CBS News]]|date=January 10, 2005|access-date=July 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170726051131/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/cbs-ousts-4-for-bush-guard-story-10-01-2005/|archive-date=July 26, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Former CBS news anchor Dan Rather filed a $70&nbsp;million lawsuit against CBS and former corporate parent Viacom in September 2007, contending the story, and his termination (he resigned as CBS News chief anchor in 2005), were mishandled.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dan Rather Sues CBS for $70 Million|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=3625465&page=1|author=Scott Mayerowitz|work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|date=September 19, 2007|access-date=July 24, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103210036/http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=3625465&page=1|archive-date=November 3, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Who killed Dan Rather? |url=http://archive.salon.com/opinion/feature/2005/03/09/rather/index.html |work=Salon.com |date=March 9, 2005 |access-date=March 23, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517145336/https://archive.salon.com/opinion/feature/2005/03/09/rather/index.html |archive-date=May 17, 2008  }}</ref> Parts of the suit were dismissed in 2008;<ref>{{cite news|title=Rather's Lawsuit Shows Role of G.O.P. in Inquiry|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/17/business/media/17rather.html|author=Jacques Steinberg|newspaper=The New York Times|date=November 16, 2008|access-date=February 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170625034123/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/17/business/media/17rather.html?pagewanted=all|archive-date=June 25, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> subsequently in 2010, the entire suit was dismissed and Rather's motion to appeal was denied.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dan Rather loses bid in CBS lawsuit|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-jan-13-la-et-rather13-2010jan13-story.html|author=Matea Gold|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=January 13, 2010|access-date=February 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018015057/http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jan/13/entertainment/la-et-rather13-2010jan13|archive-date=October 18, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Hopper controversy===
{{See also|CNET#Hopper controversy}}
In January 2013, [[CNET]] named [[Dish Network]]'s "Hopper with [[Slingbox|Sling]]" digital video recorder as a nominee for the [[International CES|CES]] "Best in Show" award (which is decided by CNET on behalf of its organizers, the [[Consumer Electronics Association]]), and named it the winner in a vote by the site's staff. However, CBS division CBS Interactive disqualified the Hopper and vetoed the results as CBS was in active litigation with Dish Network over its [[AutoHop]] technology (which allows users to skip commercial advertisements during recorded programs).<ref>{{cite web|title=Exclusive: CBS forced CNET staff to recast vote after Hopper won 'Best in Show' at CES|url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/1/14/3874682/exclusive-cbs-forced-cnet-editors-to-recast-vote-after-hopper-win|author=Joshua Topolsky|work=The Verge|date=January 14, 2013|access-date=February 28, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130225124806/http://www.theverge.com/2013/1/14/3874682/exclusive-cbs-forced-cnet-editors-to-recast-vote-after-hopper-win|archive-date=February 25, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> CNET announced that it would no longer review any product or service provided by companies that CBS Corporation was in litigation with. The "Best in Show" award was instead given to the [[Razer USA|Razer Edge]] tablet.<ref name="wsj-hopper">{{cite web|title=Dish Recorder Snubbed for CNET Award Over CBS Legal Scuffle|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2013/01/10/dish-recorder-snubbed-for-cnet-award-over-cbs-legal-scuffle/|newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|publisher=[[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corp.]]|date=January 10, 2013|access-date=January 11, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130112233243/http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2013/01/10/dish-recorder-snubbed-for-cnet-award-over-cbs-legal-scuffle/|archive-date=January 12, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=pcmag-cnethopper/><ref name=verge-cescbs/> On January 14, 2013, CNET editor-in-chief Lindsey Turrentine said in a statement that its staff was in an "impossible" situation due to the [[conflict of interest]] posed by the lawsuit, and promised to prevent a similar incident from occurring again. The conflict also prompted the resignation of CNET senior writer Greg Sandoval.<ref name=pcmag-cnethopper>{{cite web|title=CNET Picked Dish Hopper as 'Best of CES' ... Until CBS Stepped In|url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2414276,00.asp|author=Chloe Albanesius|work=[[PC Magazine]]|access-date=January 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117060254/http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2414276,00.asp|archive-date=January 17, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> As a result of the controversy, the CEA announced on January 31, 2013, that CNET will no longer decide the CES Best in Show award winner due to the interference of CBS (with the position being offered to other technology publications), and the "Best in Show" award was jointly awarded to both the Hopper with Sling and Razer Edge.<ref name="verge-cescbs">{{cite web|title=CNET loses CES awards following Dish Hopper controversy; DVR named 'Best In Show'|url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/1/31/3937476/cnet-loses-ces-awards-following-dish-hopper-controversy-dvr-named|work=The Verge|date=January 31, 2013|access-date=August 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018020224/https://www.theverge.com/2013/1/31/3937476/cnet-loses-ces-awards-following-dish-hopper-controversy-dvr-named|archive-date=October 18, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=After CNET Snub, CEA Awards 'Best of CES' to Dish Hopper|url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2414988,00.asp|author=Chloe Albanesius|work=PC Magazine|date=January 31, 2013|access-date=February 28, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130306115715/http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2414988,00.asp|archive-date=March 6, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Harassment allegations ===
In July 2018, an article by [[Ronan Farrow]] in ''[[The New Yorker]]'' claimed that thirty "current and former CBS employees described harassment, gender discrimination, or retaliation" at CBS and six women accused Les Moonves of harassment and intimidation.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/08/06/les-moonves-and-cbs-face-allegations-of-sexual-misconduct|title=Les Moonves and CBS Face Allegations of Sexual Misconduct|first=Ronan|last=Farrow|magazine=The New Yorker|access-date=April 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525004659/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/08/06/les-moonves-and-cbs-face-allegations-of-sexual-misconduct|archive-date=May 25, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Following these allegations, it was reported on September 6, 2018, that CBS board members were negotiating Les Moonves's departure from the company.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://money.cnn.com/2018/09/06/media/les-moonves-cbs-exit-talks/index.html|title=CBS reportedly negotiating exit for CEO Les Moonves|last=Disis|first=Brian Stelter and Jill|work=CNNMoney|access-date=September 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906210952/https://money.cnn.com/2018/09/06/media/les-moonves-cbs-exit-talks/index.html|archive-date=September 6, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

On September 9, 2018, ''The New Yorker'' reported that six additional women (in addition to the six original women reported in July) had raised accusations against Moonves, going back to the 1980s.<ref>{{cite news |title=As Leslie Moonves Negotiates His Exit from CBS, Six Women Raise New Assault and Harassment Claims |url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/as-leslie-moonves-negotiates-his-exit-from-cbs-women-raise-new-assault-and-harassment-claims |access-date=September 10, 2018 |agency=The New Yorker |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180910113047/https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/as-leslie-moonves-negotiates-his-exit-from-cbs-women-raise-new-assault-and-harassment-claims |archive-date=September 10, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Following this, Moonves resigned the same day as chief executive of CBS.<ref>{{cite news |title=Les Moonves Resigns As CEO Of CBS Amid Sexual Harassment Allegations |url=https://headlinestoday.org/international/2653/les-moonves-resigns-as-ceo-of-cbs-amid-sexual-harassment-allegations/ |access-date=September 10, 2018 |agency=Headlines Today |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180910220527/https://headlinestoday.org/international/2653/les-moonves-resigns-as-ceo-of-cbs-amid-sexual-harassment-allegations/ |archive-date=September 10, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>