CBS Fires Scott Pelley After He Criticizes Bari Weiss in Staff Meeting
9 reported1 unconfirmed
According to a single-source report from The New Republic, CBS News editor in chief Bari Weiss has consolidated control over the network’s “60 Minutes” program following a series of staff changes. The report states that Weiss previously blocked a segment about Venezuelan deportees in El Salvador, which later aired after internal criticism. Last week, CBS fired executive producer Tanya Simon, two other top editors, and correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega. Weiss then appointed Nick Bilton, a writer and documentary filmmaker with no television news experience, as the new executive producer. In a staff meeting on Monday, longtime correspondent Scott Pelley said Weiss and her team were “murdering” the program and mocked Bilton’s lack of experience. CBS subsequently fired Pelley. The report notes that Pelley, Vega, and Alfonsi have publicly stated that Weiss and her aides are aggressively intervening in editorial decisions, and that the three correspondents are nonpartisan, nonideological reporters.
What’s reported
CBS News editor in chief Bari Weiss blocked a “60 Minutes” segment in December about inhumane treatment at an El Salvador prison of Venezuelan men deported from the U.S.
Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi wrote an email criticizing Weiss’s decision that was leaked and published widely.
The segment aired a few weeks later with few changes.
Last week, CBS fired executive producer Tanya Simon, two other top editors, Alfonsi, and Cecilia Vega.
Weiss appointed Nick Bilton, a writer and documentary filmmaker with no television news experience, as the new executive producer.
In a staff meeting on Monday, Scott Pelley said Weiss and her team were “murdering” “60 Minutes” and mocked Bilton’s lack of experience.
CBS fired Pelley.
Pelley, Vega, and Alfonsi have publicly stated that Weiss and her aides are aggressively intervening in editorial decisions.
The report describes the three correspondents as nonpartisan, nonideological reporters.
Open questions
The article does not specify whether Pelley intended to be fired, nor does it provide details on the exact nature of the editorial interventions alleged by the correspondents.
Key figures
Bari Weiss, CBS News editor in chief
Scott Pelley, former “60 Minutes” correspondent
Sharyn Alfonsi, former “60 Minutes” correspondent
Cecilia Vega, former “60 Minutes” correspondent
Tanya Simon, former executive producer of “60 Minutes”
Nick Bilton, new executive producer of “60 Minutes”
David Ellison, owner of Skydance Media, which acquired CBS last year
Sources: newrepublic.com
