Overview
- CBS announced on Tuesday that it has parted ways with veteran correspondent Scott Pelley after a tense staff meeting in which he criticized newly appointed 60 Minutes executive producer Nick Bilton and editor-in-chief Bari Weiss.
- Bilton sent an email to Pelley saying Pelley had 'hijacked' his first staff meeting by publicly disparaging Bilton's qualifications and intentions for the program.
- Pelley issued a public statement accusing the company’s new owners of political motives and saying 60 Minutes has been cast aside to curry favor with President Trump.
- Staffers report low morale and a loss of trust in leadership following a series of recent firings of top producers and correspondents and reports of withheld or contested reporting.
- The dispute has already prompted some dismissed staff to retain counsel and raises legal and reputational risks for CBS as questions grow about how new ownership will shape editorial decisions and newsroom culture.