“60 Minutes” and the Disappearance of the Third Force in Journalism
In the spiritual teachings of G.I. Gurdjieff, the third force is described as the unseen, harmonizing principle that brings balance between two opposing forces — one affirming, the other denying. Without the third force, situations devolve into conflict, stagnation, or imbalance. Though Gurdjieff spoke of this principle in metaphysical terms, its echoes can be seen in many parts of life — including journalism.
For over five decades, 60 Minutes operated as something like this third force in American media. It was neither a mouthpiece for power nor an agent of chaos or cynicism. Instead, it provided a kind of insight — a clear-eyed view into complex issues — that helped harmonize public understanding with the often-conflicting voices of government, industry, and society. It was trusted. It was sharp. It was fair. And its success was measurable: awards, ratings, and cultural influence.
But as Dan Rather recently described, that harmonizing force is now under direct threat.
At the center of the current storm is the resignation of 60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens, who stepped down citing a loss of editorial independence. Owens had been with the show for 24 years and knew the sacredness of its autonomy. But that space is now being encroached upon by two major forces: the corporate ambition of Shari Redstone — who is attempting to sell CBS’s parent company, Paramount Global, to Skydance Media — and the political aggression of Donald Trump, who has sued CBS for $20 billion and publicly threatened its license.
In this conflict, Redstone represents the affirming force: corporate consolidation and profit-seeking. Trump, the denying force: attack, pressure, and defamation of the press. What is missing is the third force — the impartial, stabilizing presence that once protected the integrity of the newsroom and ensured journalism remained a public service.
With new layers of corporate oversight now reviewing 60 Minutes segments before they air, the editorial firewall has been breached. As a result, stories may now be shaped not by their truth or significance, but by what won’t offend powerful interests. When this happens, journalism loses its harmonizing capacity — its power to reveal truth without fear or favor.
Bill Owens, in stepping down, becomes a kind of tragic hero — someone who upheld the principle of the third force by refusing to compromise on the independence of the newsroom. His departure signals that the balancing force is no longer welcome at the table.
In Gurdjieff’s framework, when the third force disappears, the system becomes unstable. We are seeing this now in journalism — not just at 60 Minutes, but across the industry. The public no longer knows who to trust. News is seen either as propaganda or noise. But this crisis also brings clarity: we can now see what was lost. True, independent journalism isn’t just good practice — it is a harmonizing force in democracy.
The question now is whether the third force can be restored. Can 60 Minutes — or any major news outlet — reclaim the freedom to investigate, question, and report without fear of financial or political retaliation?
That answer may determine whether journalism can still serve as a source of insight in a noisy world — or whether we are left with nothing but clashing voices, and no one to help us make sense of them.
This idea of the third force as a harmonizing, insightful presence — even a kind of magic — comes from Steffan Soule, a professional magic consultant who has spent over 40 years performing and exploring the deeper structures of perception. His unique lens shows us how unseen forces — like impartial journalism — can bring balance and clarity to what otherwise seems like chaos. In this sense, the integrity of 60 Minutes was never just good journalism; it was something like magic — the kind that helps us truly see.
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