CBS News is facing renewed internal turmoil after the network abruptly fired longtime “60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Pelley, a move that has sparked questions about the direction of one of television’s most storied news programs.
According to an audio transcript of a newsroom call reported by The New York Times, CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss defended the decision Wednesday by arguing that the issue came down to a breakdown in trust inside the organization.
“I’m only interested in working in a newsroom that is built on trust and mutual respect; we cannot do our work without it. That foundation was broken on Monday,” Weiss reportedly told staff during the call.
The firing came just one day after a tense meeting between Pelley and newly appointed “60 Minutes” executive producer Nick Bilton. Pelley, who spent nearly three decades working on the iconic news magazine program, reportedly challenged Bilton’s credentials and sharply criticized the leadership changes that have reshaped the network in recent months.
Bilton was brought in by Weiss in May after she removed former executive producer Tanya Simon from the role. His appointment quickly generated criticism, in part because the former New York Times technology columnist lacks experience in broadcast news.
During Monday’s meeting with staff, Pelley reportedly took direct aim at Bilton, telling him his qualifications for the position were “slender.” He also reportedly accused Weiss of fundamentally damaging the network’s culture and reputation.
According to The New York Times, Pelley claimed Weiss was “murdering” CBS News and suggested she had been brought in to dismantle what made the organization successful.
“She does not love this place,” Pelley reportedly said of Weiss. “She was brought in to kill it, and she’s been doing exactly that.”
Weiss was not present during the meeting where those remarks were allegedly made.
The dismissal marks another dramatic chapter in the ongoing restructuring of “60 Minutes” under Paramount, CBS’s parent company. The legendary news program has already experienced a series of high-profile departures as leadership has changed hands.
Correspondents Sharon Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega both exited the show after Weiss declined to renew Alfonsi’s contract and terminated Vega. The latest departure leaves observers wondering how much of the program’s traditional identity will remain as new management continues to reshape the newsroom.
Despite the conflict, Weiss reportedly praised Pelley’s journalism during Wednesday’s call. She highlighted several notable stories from his tenure, including his reporting on Havana syndrome and an interview with former Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse.
Those investigations, Weiss reportedly told employees, represented the kind of journalism that has long defined “60 Minutes.” She also expressed confidence that Bilton and the remaining staff would continue producing similar work when the program returns for its next season.
“Those are the kind of stories that have always typified ‘60 Minutes,’ and they’re the kind of stories that Nick Bilton is going to put on the air come September in Season 59 with the amazing team that’s still there,” Weiss reportedly said.
CBS has not publicly commented on Pelley’s firing. The network has yet to release an official statement explaining the decision, leaving many questions unanswered as one of America’s most recognizable news programs continues to navigate a period of significant upheaval.
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