Topline
CBS News fired top “60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Pelley on Tuesday, after the senior journalist and former anchor called out Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss and accused her of “murdering ‘60 Minutes’” after she ousted its leadership team and hired tech journalist Nick Bilton to lead the show.
Key Facts
According to the Wall Street Journal, Bilton, the new “60 Minutes” Executive Producer, informed Pelley on Tuesday that he was being fired “for cause, effective immediately.”
Pelley had reportedly clashed with Bilton during an explosive staff meeting earlier this week, saying he has “slender” qualifications for the job and confronted him about the firing of some of long-time “60 Minutes” producers.
The New York Times also confirmed the firing citing a phone conversation with Pelley, who talked about his “devotion” to “60 Minutes,” citing his reporting work from various war zones.
In his letter to Pelley, Bilton accused the journalist of hijacking his first meeting to “disparage” him and making a “performative display of hostility.”
In a memo sent to “60 Minutes” staffers, Bilton claimed he made “repeated attempts” to have direct talks with the senior correspondent over the weekend to “find common ground” but was allegedly rebuffed.
CBS News has not yet commented on Pelley’s firing.
What Do We Know About The Fiery Staff Meeting?
At a staff meeting on Monday, Pelley reportedly confronted Bilton about the firings of the show’s long-time producers and fellow correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega. When Bilton suggested that Weiss “loves this institution,” Pelley reportedly shot back, “She is murdering ‘60 Minutes.’” Pelley then proceeded to call out Weiss, who was not at the meeting and said she “doesn’t love this place” and alleged that she was brought in by the network’s new owner, David Ellison, to “kill” the news division, “and she’s been doing exactly that.”
Key Background
Pelley’s firing follows a series of other controversies impacting CBS News since David Ellison’s acquisition of the network’s parent, Paramount, last year. Ellison also acquired Weiss’ online publication “The Free Press” and brought her on board as the editor in chief of CBS’s news division. Since taking over, Weiss has enacted many sweeping changes at CBS News, many of which have been controversial. One of the biggest controversies of her tenure occurred last year after she directed the network to pull a segment of “60 Minutes” just before it was set to air. The segment was focused on highlighting the harsh conditions faced by migrants deported from the U.S. by the Trump administration and sent to a maximum security prison in El Salvador. Weiss reportedly sought additions to the story including interview with Trump administration officials and later told the New York Times that it was lacking “sufficient context” and “missing critical voices.” Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi, who worked on the story sent an internal note to ‘60 Minutes’ staffers saying, “In my view, pulling it now—after every rigorous internal check has been met is not an editorial decision, it is a political one.”
CBS News Fires Scott Pelley of ‘60 Minutes’ (New York Times)
‘60 Minutes’ Correspondent Scott Pelley Fired by CBS News (Wall Street Journal)
CBS News’ Scott Pelley Accuses Boss Bari Weiss Of ‘Murdering’ ‘60 Minutes’ (Forbes)
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