Seasoned journalist Catherine Herridge secured an exclusive interview with technology magnate Elon Musk in early 2023. The interview was intended to delve into Musk’s acquisition of Twitter (X) and the unveiling of the “Twitter Files.”
However, Herridge’s plans were thwarted by CBS News executives who harbored apprehensions about Musk’s unpredictable nature and insisted on recording and editing the interview before broadcasting it. Herridge disclosed this in a November 26, 2024 video on X.
Previously engaged in investigating the Hunter Biden laptop story for CBS, Herridge sought approval from the network executives to conduct a live interview with Musk.
She suggested airing the interview live on X, in line with Musk’s penchant for direct communication. “I went to the CBS executives and said, ‘This is the opportunity that we have.’ He’s saying, ‘I want to do it live and on my platform,'” Herridge explained. “Elon Musk on CBS News! He’s one of the most influential human beings on the planet, and the reaction from the executives was, ‘Well, we can’t do it live.’”
The network’s top brass expressed unease about hosting a live interview with Musk due to worries about his potential comments. The decision baffled Herridge, as interviews generally thrive when not restricted by content. She questioned the reason for denying a live interview, pointing out that the executives’ fears revolved around the unpredictability of Musk’s statements. Frustrated, she noted that the core of journalism lies in discovering the unexpected in interviews.
CBS executives also opposed broadcasting the interview on Musk’s platform X, in addition to their insistence on a pre-recorded and edited format. Herridge proposed to her superiors that the interview should be simultaneously broadcast on both X and CBS’s streaming platform, enabling both platforms to air it concurrently.
However, this proposal was outrightly dismissed. Herridge confessed that she felt discouraged and did not pursue Elon Musk further about the interview. She additionally noted that the network had set numerous conditions for the interview, which she believed Musk would not accept.
This episode is indicative of a wider trend of challenges Herridge faced at CBS. Her coverage of the Hunter Biden laptop scandal faced internal hurdles, resulting in its broadcast being postponed until after the 2022 midterm elections.
Earlier this year, Herridge was among numerous employees made redundant by CBS amid network reductions. After her departure, CBS held onto her reporting materials, which were eventually returned following pressure from the union representing her.
Currently, Herridge publishes investigative pieces through her newsletter and on X. Her experiences bring to light issues surrounding editorial independence and the difficulties journalists encounter when covering high-profile individuals and sensitive subjects.
