CBS News ‘Made a Mistake’ in Rebuking Anchor, Shari Redstone Says

Shari Redstone, the media mogul whose Paramount empire controls CBS News, criticized the network’s leadership on Wednesday for its decision to reprimand a star morning show anchor over his handling of an on-air interview with the writer Ta-Nehisi Coates. “They made a mistake here,” Ms. Redstone said during an appearance in Midtown Manhattan, adding, “I think we all agree that this was not handled correctly.” CBS News executives rebuked the anchor, Tony Dokoupil, on a newsroom-wide call on Monday, saying that his conduct fell short of editorial standards. Mr. Dokoupil had challenged Mr. Coates’s views about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict during a tense but civil appearance last week on “CBS Mornings,” at one point saying that parts of Mr. Coates’s new book — which compares Israel’s treatment of Palestinians with Jim Crow laws — “would not be out of place in the backpack of an extremist.” Asked directly on Wednesday if she believed Mr. Dokoupil’s line of questioning had violated CBS’s standards, Ms. Redstone replied, “No.” “Tony did a great job with that interview,” she said. “I think he handled himself and showed the world a role model of what civil discourse is, that he showed that there was accountability, that there is a system of checks and balances, and frankly I was very proud of the work that he did.” This is a developing story. Check back for updates. Michael M. Grynbaum writes about the intersection of media, politics and culture. He has been a media correspondent at The Times since 2016. More about Michael M. Grynbaum Benjamin Mullin reports on the major companies behind news and entertainment. Contact Ben securely on Signal at +1 530-961-3223 or email at benjamin.mullin@nytimes.com. More about Benjamin Mullin Ta-Nehisi Coates, Shari Redstone, CBS News, Paramount Inside the Media Industry — CBS: CBS News on Monday rebuked one of its star morning anchors, Tony Dokoupil, over an interview that he conducted with the author Ta-Nehisi Coates, in which Dokoupil challenged Coates’s views about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. — ‘SmartLess’ Podcast: Started during the pandemic, this venture is the first step in a media empire being built by the actors Sean Hayes, Will Arnett and Jason Bateman. — Sony Pictures: Sony Pictures Entertainment said that its chief executive, Tony Vinciquerra, will step down at the beginning of next year and be succeeded by the studio’s president and chief operating officer, Ravi Ahuja. — DirecTV: The company said that it had reached an agreement to acquire Dish Network, a deal that would create a satellite TV giant with millions of customers and potentially provide a financial lifeline for Dish. — CNN: The network is again financing and releasing documentary series and films after backing away from the genre two years ago.