Renowned journalist Catherine Herridge was set to interview tech mogul Elon Musk in early 2023, following his recent acquisition of Twitter (X) and the unveiling of the “Twitter Files.” However, CBS News executives decided against it due to Musk’s unpredictable nature, opting for a pre-recorded and edited interview instead. Herridge divulged this development in a video posted on X on November 26, 2024.
While investigating the Hunter Biden laptop saga for CBS, Herridge saw an opportunity to conduct a live interview with Musk and presented this idea to the network executives.
She suggested airing the interview live on X, aligning with Musk’s penchant for straightforward 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 recollected. “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 management of the network expressed concern about conducting a live interview with Musk, fearing his potentially unpredictable comments. Herridge found this decision perplexing, as unscripted interviews typically provide more authentic and engaging content. She questioned the logic behind denying a live interview. In a reflective tone, she emphasized that journalism thrives on unpredictability and unscripted moments.
Besides insisting on a recorded and edited interview, CBS executives were also opposed to broadcasting the interview on Musk’s platform X. Herridge proposed a solution where the interview could be simultaneously aired on both X and CBS’s streaming platform, allowing both platforms to benefit.
However, this proposition was outrightly rejected. A disheartened Herridge revealed she did not further pursue the matter with Elon Musk. She also pointed out that CBS had imposed numerous conditions for the interview, which she suspected Musk would not accept.
This incident reflects the broader challenges Herridge faced at CBS. Her coverage of the Hunter Biden laptop controversy faced internal hurdles, pushing its broadcast date to post the 2022 midterm elections.
Earlier this year, Herridge was among several employees let go by CBS during a round of layoffs. After her exit, CBS held on to her reporting materials, which were returned later after intervention from her union.
Currently, Herridge continues to publish investigative reports through her newsletter and on X. Her experiences highlight the potential constraints on journalistic independence and the difficulties reporters may encounter when covering high-profile individuals or sensitive subjects. CBS News has refrained from commenting on the issue.