Paramount Global co-CEO George Cheeks released a memo to staffers this afternoon, defending top CBS News executives for calling out the way that CBS Mornings co-host Tony Dokuopil handled an interview last week with author Ta-Nehisi Coates.

Paramount Global co-CEO George Cheeks is standing by CBS News leadership and calling for "further substantive dialogue" at the network amid "strong and growing discord" in the wake of anchor Tony Dokoupil's recent interview with author Ta-Nehisi Coates.

In memo to employees, George Cheeks wrote that an editorial meeting should be called to talk about the standards for fairness and objectivity set within the news division.