Award-winning journalist Lowell Bergman believes Paramount Global and CBS eight-figure settlement with PresidentDonald Trump will spark "unacceptable" fear for "60 Minutes" reporters going forward.Bergman, a longtime producer for CBS "60 Minutes" whose investigation of the tobacco industry was dramatized in the 1999 movie, "The Insider," appeared on "The Daily" New York Times podcast to offer his take on Paramount Global and CBS settling with Trump.Bergman was played by Al Pacino in the film, which was based on the true story of CBS legal counsel attempting to shut down his tobacco industry report to appease corporate interests. Bergman said last weeks decision by Paramount to settle Trumps "election interference" lawsuit makes current CBS issues even worse.CBS STAFFERS REVOLT OVER PARAMOUNT'S 'SHAMEFUL' TRUMP SETTLEMENT, 'BETRAYAL' TO THE NETWORK'S JOURNALISTS"Its nonsense, its done to intimidate," Bergman said of Trumps $20 billion election interference lawsuit against the network.The lawsuit alleged CBS News deceitfully edited a "60 Minutes" interview last year with then-Vice PresidentKamala Harrisin order to make her appear more articulate ahead of Election Day.Many legal experts and Paramounts own attorneys insisted the lawsuit was meritless, but CBS parent company settled it anyway. Paramount's controlling shareholder Shari Redstonereportedly pushed for the settlement in hopes of paving the way for Trumps FCC to approve a long-planned, lucrative merger with David Ellisons Skydance Media."Its not like a case involving tobacco, and the pressure that was coming down... this is the President of the United States, this is without precedent in the history of this country," Bergman told "The Daily."Bergman said the settlement was explained by Paramount Global and CBS in a way to make it appear like a "minor thing," when he believes it could actually have major ramifications."Anyone working at 60 Minutes from now on has to worry about what is going to be allowed on the air, at a level that is, how should I put it? Not acceptable," Bergman told the podcast.PARAMOUNT, CBS FORCED TO PAY EIGHT FIGURES, CHANGE EDITORIAL POLICY IN SETTLEMENT WITH PRESIDENT TRUMPBergman is hopeful "60 Minutes" can regain credibility but feels producers and journalists could be hesitant to cause any controversy."And if the new owners who are coming in, who are going to buy, do not have a long tradition of being in the news business or being respectful of the traditions that it represents, were at a really grim moment when absurd lawsuits and huge amounts of money come together to damage the public interest," Bergman said."So, I would say," he continued. "You gotta be a little bit depressed about what the future holds." Fox News Digital has learned that the sum being paid to Trump could reach north of $30 million, with $16 million being paid upfront for his future presidential library, in addition to another eight-figure allocation set aside for advertisements, public service announcements or other similar transmissions, in support of conservative causes by the network in the future.BERNIE SANDERS BLASTS PARAMOUNT, SAYS LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT WILL FURTHER EMBOLDEN TRUMP TO ATTACK MEDIACurrent Paramount management disputes the additional allocation, and a source familiar with Paramount's current leadership told Fox News Digital only $16 million was sanctioned by the official mediator, and they have no knowledge of any deal Trump made on the side.CBS also agreed to update its editorial standards by mandating the release of full, unedited transcripts of interviews with future presidential candidates.Paramount has defended the settlement."Companies often settle litigation to avoid the high and somewhat unpredictable costs of legal defense, the risk of an adverse judgment that could result in significant financial or reputational damage, and the disruption to business operations that prolonged legal battles can cause. Settlement offers a negotiated resolution that allows companies to focus on their core objectives rather than being mired in uncertainty and distraction," a Paramount spokesperson told Fox News Digital.