Overview
- Columbia Journalism School announced Monday that Scott Pelley and Sharyn Alfonsi will serve as journalists‑in‑residence for 2026–27 to mentor students, lead workshops, and contribute to the Columbia Journalism Review.
- Pelley was fired in early June after a confrontation with new 60 Minutes executive producer Nick Bilton and Alfonsi left when her contract was not renewed in May, moves that followed a broader leadership overhaul at CBS News under Bari Weiss.
- Multiple outlets report that former 60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens has shopped a business plan and pitch deck seeking roughly $50 million to fund a rival investigative program with displaced correspondents and producers, though Owens has denied the plan and the funding remains unverified.
- Industry sources say major streamers have limited appetite for an expensive, traditional newsmagazine model and that any independent venture would likely require steep pay cuts for staff or a deep-pocketed platform partner.
- Tensions inside 60 Minutes persist: executive producer Nick Bilton circulated a memo criticizing frequent leaks, the memo itself was leaked, and CBS is preparing a retooled Season 59 with new contributors ahead of a September premiere.