The significance of “60 Minutes” in the realm of journalism cannot be overstated. As the most-watched television-news program in the United States, it has hosted some of the most distinguished journalists since its 1968 debut on CBS. Notable figures include Mike Wallace, Ed Bradley, Lesley Stahl, Anderson Cooper, and until recently, Scott Pelley.
Pelley was with the network for 37 years, serving in roles such as White House correspondent, anchor of the “CBS Evening News,” and a correspondent for “60 Minutes.” His departure was the result of several upheavals at CBS. These included a contentious financial settlement with President Trump regarding a “60 Minutes” segment, the network’s acquisition by David Ellison, and the hiring of Bari Weiss, formerly of The New York Times and founder of The Free Press, who had no prior television-news experience, to lead CBS News.
Pelley’s termination followed a decision by Weiss to dismiss several employees and recruit Nick Bilton as the new “60 Minutes” chief. Pelley had clashed with Bilton during a staff meeting. Now, Pelley and several former “60 Minutes” correspondents accuse Weiss of editorial meddling and bias, claims that CBS News and Weiss deny.
In his first interview since his dismissal, Pelley discussed an incident he perceived as editorial interference, his recent experiences at CBS News, and what he hopes will result from this disruptive period at the network where he devoted much of his career.
“A few days before your dismissal, several prominent ‘60 Minutes’ correspondents and leaders were terminated. Leading up to these events, there were many reports of impending changes to the program. Was this the change you anticipated?” Pelley was asked.
“The Black Thursday massacre was unforeseen. Our entire senior staff was affected. Tanya Simon, our leader and the first woman to be executive producer of ‘60 Minutes,’ concluded this season with an unprecedented audience growth of nine percent and a staggering 190 percent increase in our online presence. Last season’s 2.5 billion views signify a vast reach. We were at a peak,” Pelley responded.
These changes at CBS have certainly caught the public and industry attention. With such high stakes, the developments continue to unfold.
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