The three remaining correspondents of CBS News’ program ’60 Minutes’, Lesley Stahl, Jon Wertheim, and Bill Whitaker, have chosen to stay for now, despite recent turmoil. This decision comes after a memo was shared with fellow staffers expressing their anger and grief over recent firings within the team. The correspondents mentioned they had a challenging time deciding whether to continue.
In their memo, obtained by The Associated Press, they emphasized their desire not to see ’60 Minutes’ falter. The dismissals were implemented by Bari Weiss, the newly appointed CBS News editor-in-chief, along with Nick Bilton, the executive producer who replaced Tanya Simon. Simon departed after more than 30 years with the program. Other notable departures include correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi, Cecilia Vega, and Scott Pelley, who was dismissed post a tense confrontation with CBS News executives.
“We want to express how sorry we are that these principled, fair, and honest journalists were treated so shabbily, with such indecency,” the memo stated.
Although feeling regretful, the correspondents stated they are “working to build trust” with Bilton, their new chief. They are open to leaving later if necessary. The show aims to maintain its reputation through independent, fearless journalism and storytelling, and if these principles could be upheld, they will continue contributing to the program.
Persuading these three to remain was pivotal for Bilton in his efforts to steer the program back on track for its upcoming season starting in September. Along with the recent departures, Anderson Cooper announced earlier this year he would be leaving as well after twenty years, choosing to focus on his role at CNN.
The unrest at ’60 Minutes’ has been evident for over a year. This upheaval was intensified by a lawsuit from President Donald Trump regarding the editing of a 2024 interview with then-Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris. This lawsuit formed part of a larger shake-up within CBS News after Paramount appointed Weiss as editor-in-chief following David Ellison’s introduction as the network’s corporate head. Skydance, Ellison’s company, merged with CBS’ parent company Paramount and later settled the Trump lawsuit for $16 million. Popular CBS late-night host Stephen Colbert, frustrated over the settlement, left subsequently, deeming the arrangement ‘a big fat bribe’.
For decades, CBS News has been a cornerstone of American broadcast journalism since its radio days before television. Walter Cronkite anchored the network’s nightly newscast, regarded as one of the nation’s most trusted institutions. However, the radio operation shutdown was announced earlier by Weiss, marking another significant change in the network.
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