Another shareholder meeting, another protest. Following in the footsteps of Disney and Comcast, shareholders at the CBS meeting accused CBS News and “60 Minutes” of anti-semitism in a story on the venerable program.

The story–about Christians leaving the Holy Land–got a few facts wrong, according to the activists, who claim that the cause is the local Muslim population, rather than the local Jewish population, as the story suggests. CBS CEO Leslie Moonves staunchly defended the program.

The Hollywood Reporter‘s Paul Bond has more:

“The failure of CBS News to take action on this matter remains astonishing and inexplicable,” she said at the shareholder’s meeting, which was held for the first time at the CBS studios in Los Angeles…

Each of the CAMERA representatives spoke twice, and Moonves responded that he was standing by the 60 Minutes segment. CBS general counsel Louis Briskman spoke of 60 Minutes being the “crown jewel” of CBS News, and he said that the show’s “First Amendment rights should not be chilled.”

CBS is going big for this year’s Super Bowl in New Orleans February 3. As we have previously reported, every unit of the company will be represented, with four different sets in the city’s famous Jackson Square.

“CBS This Morning,” “Face the Nation” and the “CBS Evening News” will be live in New Orleans leading up to the game. TVNewser spoke to “Evening News” anchor Scott Pelley at the CBS Broadcast Center today, following a Super Bowl press conference.

Pelley says that the White House has yet to confirm the traditional pre-Super Bowl Presidential interview.

“I would be surprised if they didn’t take advantage of this remarkable opportunity for the President to speak to one third of the people of this country at one time,” Pelley said, noting that the interview “comes around like Christmas.”

“Every White House waits until the last minute, because you never know what is going to be on the President’s plate any given day,” added Pelley, who will do the honors if it comes together. Katie Couric interviewed Pres. Obama the last time CBS broadcast the Super Bowl in 2010.

CBS CEO Leslie Moonves introduced the room to “CBS This Morning’s” Charlie Rose by gently ribbing him on his penchant for staying out late in the New York social scene:

Read more

The New York Times reports Esther Kartiganer, a one-time office assistant at CBS who rose to the rank of senior producer at “60 Minutes,” passed away at her home in Aspen, CO. Kartiganer died of a heart attack, her brother confirms.

Kartiganer, who was senior producer in charge of vetting content was wrapped up in the controversial Dan Rather “60 Minutes II” report on Pres. George W. Bush’s military service. From The Times:

In January 2005, Ms. Kartiganer was removed from “60 Minutes” and reassigned after an independent panel concluded that the segment had been unfair and misleading and that it had been rushed to broadcast without proper vetting. “This should never have happened,” Leslie Moonves, the CBS chairman at the time, said in announcing the dismissals. Mr. Rather left the network in June 2006.

Ms. Kartiganer sued the network for defamation, contending that, contrary to Mr. Moonves’s assertion, she had fulfilled her responsibilities on the disputed report, including reviewing the unedited transcripts of interviews with several principals.

A confidential settlement of the case was reached, Ms. Kartiganer’s brother said on Friday. A CBS spokesman declined to comment.

Kartiganer joined CBS in 1964 as an office assistant rising up through the CBS News division producing documentaries.

Following news of Mike Wallace‘s death, remembrances and tributes have poured in.

“It is with tremendous sadness that we mark the passing of Mike Wallace,” said Leslie Moonves, president and CEO, CBS Corporation in a statement. “His extraordinary contribution as a broadcaster is immeasurable and he has been a force within the television industry throughout its existence. His loss will be felt by all of us at CBS.”

Morley Safer and Bob Schieffer shared their thoughts this morning on CBS:

Former “CBS Evening News” anchor Dan Rather:

“Mike Wallace was from from the beginning and for many years the heart and soul of ’60 Minutes.’ In that role, he helped change American television news. Among the ways that this change was for the better: TV news became more investigative, more aggressive and relevant. Mike was sharp and quick of mind, a fierce competitor and a master interviewer.”

Fox News chairman & CEO Roger Ailes said in a statement:

“Mike Wallace was one of the premier journalists of our time — his legendary tenacity, passion for the truth and unwavering commitment to fairness will always be admired and remembered. He will remain in the pantheon of greats in broadcasting journalism. Our thoughts and prayers are with Chris and the entire Wallace family.”

From “ABC World News” anchor Diane Sawyer:

“Mike’s energy and nerve paced everyone at ’60 Minutes.’ His was the defining spirit of the show. He bounded through the halls with joy at the prospect of the new, the true, the unexpected.”

From NBC News president Steve Capus:

“Mike Wallace was a gifted, tenacious reporter who set the gold standard in investigative reporting. His unique style compelled you to sit forward and take notice of everything he put on the air. Towards the end of his career, my wife Sophia and I had the chance to get to know the man behind the legend. We enjoyed Mike’s good company and his stories of a remarkable life. He will be missed. Our condolences to his family.”

We will add more as we get them.

Legendary CBS Newsman Mike Wallace has died at the age of 93.

Wallace was a staple on CBS for a half century, and was most well-known for his reports on the newsmagazine “60 Minutes,” for which he served as a correspondent. Wallace was one of the original correspondents on that program when it debuted in 1968, and remained a regular contributor up until 2008.

Next Sunday’s installment of “6o Minutes” will be dedicated to Wallace’s life and career.

In an column on CBSNews.com,written by Wallace’s friend and colleague Morley Safer, the sheer breadth of Wallace’s journalistic life becomes apparent.

It was 65 years from Mike’s first appearance on camera – a World War II film for the Navy – to his last television appearance, a “60 Minutes” interview with Roger Clemens, the baseball star trying to fight off accusations of steroid use.

“All of us at CBS News and particularly at 60 Minutes owe so much to Mike,” said Jeff Fager, chairman of CBS News and executive producer of 60 Minutes in a statement. “Without him and his iconic style, there probably wouldn’t be a 60 Minutes. There simply hasn’t been another broadcast journalist with that much talent. It almost didn’t matter what stories he was covering, you just wanted to hear what he would ask next. Around CBS he was the same infectious, funny and ferocious person as he was on TV. We loved him and we will miss him very much.”

Wallace is survived by his son, Fox News anchor Chris Wallace, three stepchildren, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

After the jump, Wallace’s obituary from CBS News.

Read more

Words of condolence following the passing of Andy Rooney, from his CBS colleagues.

Leslie Moonves: “Words cannot adequately express Andy’s contribution to the world of journalism and the impact he made–as a colleague and friend–upon everyone at CBS. His wry wit, his unique ability to capture the essence of any issue, and his larger-than-life personality made him an icon, not only within the industry but among readers and viewers around the globe. Andy was not just a member of the CBS family; he was a member of the world’s family. We treasure the legacy he has left, and his presence will be sorely missed by those of us at CBS and by his fans around the world.”

Jeff Fager: “It’s a sad day at 60 MINUTES and for everybody here at CBS News. It’s hard to imagine not having Andy around. He loved his life and he lived it on his own terms. We will miss him very much.”

Morley Safer: “Underneath that gruff exterior, was a prickly interior…and deeper down was a sweet and gentle man, a patriot with a love of all things American, like good bourbon and a delicious hatred for prejudice and hypocrisy.”

Scott Pelley: “The Romans had Cicero. The English had Dickens. America had Andy. He hid a philosopher’s genius behind the honest prose of Everyman. Apparently, God needed a writer.”

Steve Kroft: “Andy always said he wanted to work until the day he died and he managed to do it, save the past few weeks in the hospital. What a life: ninety- two years of doing what you love to do while engaging and entertaining millions and millions of people. He played an invaluable role in the success of 60 MINUTES over the years, providing a much anticipated

Read more

37-year-old CBS News President David Rhodes and 35-year-old CNN anchor Erin Burnett have made Fortune’s annual “40 Under 40″ list. Rhodes comes in at #17. And here’s a tip: if you want to get on his good-side, have a sense of humor.

Pet peeve: Humorlessness. “All day long you meet people who take themselves too seriously. Humor is how reasonable people cope.”

Insiders tell us Rhodes got congratulatory emails from CBS Corp. chairman Leslie Moonves and CBS News chairman Jeff Fager this morning.

Burnett, the former CNBC anchor, comes in at #33 (CNN and Fortune are both owned by TimeWarner):

She still has her eye on the markets but plans to also cover global stories. “I think America has a higher tolerance for international news than the industry has assumed,” she says.

The list is topped by the obvious names: 28-year-old Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg at #1 and Google co-founder Larry Page, 38, comes in at #2. Google’s other co-founder, 38-year-old Sergey Brin comes in at #11.

When I was an intern in the marketing department at WFRV-TV in Green Bay, the station was transitioning from an ABC affiliate to a CBS O&O. One thing I learned after CBS took over: don’t mess with the Eye; that iconic CBS Eye logo should be treated with respect and not used for just any old piece of marketing.

Almost 20 years after that internship, the CBS Eye endures. Today marks 60 years since the Eye made its debut during network station breaks, Saturday, October 20, 1951.

To celebrate, CBS.com will replace its current CBS Eye with the original Eye logo. When you hover over it, you will see a brief explanation of its significance, and clicking on it will send you to a classic Charles Osgood story about the creation and history of the CBS Eye. Tonight on TV, CBS will broadcast an on-air spot showcasing the various CBS Eye logos throughout the years and highlighting the significance of the date.

“From the Network to the Corporation, the CBS Eye is an enduring asset of our company and a major source of pride for all of us,” said Leslie Moonves, President and CEO of CBS Corp. “It is a corporate logo that is known and respected all around the world, and continues to be a fitting symbol of CBS’s proud history and ongoing leadership.”

Here’s a brief history of the Eye…

Read more

CBS News has a new leadership team, and its evening news anchor Katie Couric may or not be a part of the organization once her contract expires in June. But while CBS News is facing fundamental challenges in the face of a new economic climate, CBS CEO Leslie Moonves is doing just fine.

Moonves earned a staggering $57.7 million payday in 2010, a 34% bump from 2009. That includes a $3.5 million salary, $27.5 million bonus and $23 million stock awards.

By comparison, Couric was the highest paid of all the evening news anchors, earning around $15 million a year from CBS. Moonves earned more than Couric, NBC’s Brian Williams and ABC’s Diane Sawyer combined last year.

Why the big compensation bump? The LA Times explains:

Read more

CBS News’ brand-new management team doesn’t officially take over until tomorrow, but it’s already earning high marks from former division president Andrew Heyward.

“It’s a really creative, innovative way to structure top management,” says Heyward, a consultant to media companies. “I give Leslie [Leslie Moonves, president and CEO of CBS Corp.] a lot of credit for this.”

“This” is the unusual tandem of Bloomberg alum David Rhodes as CBS News president and ’60 Minutes’ executive producer Jeff Fager as chairman, a new title. In addition to topping the division’s flow chart, Fager will continue running ’60.’

Rhodes is a young (37) CBS outsider whose entire career has been in cable. Fager, 56, has spent more than half his life at CBS, where he is universally respected as a  newsman and manager.

Frank Sesno, former CNN Washington bureau chief, labels the professional coupling  “a dream team.”

“The boss understands the heritage, preserves the legacy, articulates the vision,” says Sesno, director of the School of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University. “The president brings in new blood, a new sensibility and a cable edge.”

The duo, announced Feb. 7, made its first major move Friday with the exit of Paul Friedman, executive vice president for news, and Barbara Fedida, head of talent and development.  Neither departure was unexpected.

Friedman, in particular, was strongly disliked by the troops for his brusque management

Read more