New ’60 Minutes’ Leader Faces Staff Departures, Morale Challenges
Nick Bilton has been named by CBS News editor in chief Bari Weiss to lead “60 Minutes” into its 59th season. Bilton, a technology reporter who moved into screenwriting and documentary production, has no sustained experience managing a large team of journalists or a broadcast-TV property. The newsmagazine has seen significant staffing reductions, with its correspondent count dropping from seven to four after Anderson Cooper left in February and Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega were fired last week. Executive editor Draggan Mihailovich and producers Guy Campanile and Matthew Poelvoy were also ousted, while Tanya Simon, who became the first woman executive producer in the show’s history last year, exited. Scott Pelley criticized Bilton and Weiss at a staff meeting, accusing Weiss of “murdering” the program; CBS News declined to comment. Bilton declined to discuss staffing plans but has called for increased content production. Producers have reportedly “self-censored” to avoid pushback from Weiss or corporate, according to two people familiar with CBS News. Vega stated in a release that she experienced efforts to insert political bias into stories.
What’s reported
Bari Weiss named Nick Bilton to lead “60 Minutes” into its 59th season.
Bilton has background in tech reporting, screenwriting, and documentaries but no experience managing a large journalism team or broadcast TV property.
Correspondent count dropped from seven to four: Anderson Cooper left in February; Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega were fired last week.
Draggan Mihailovich (executive editor) and producers Guy Campanile and Matthew Poelvoy were also let go.
Tanya Simon, who became the first woman executive producer of “60 Minutes” last year, has left the show.
Scott Pelley criticized Bilton and Weiss at a staff meeting, accusing Weiss of “murdering” the program; CBS News declined to comment.
Two people familiar with CBS News said producers have “self-censored” to avoid pushback from Weiss or corporate.
Cecilia Vega stated in a release that she “experienced efforts to insert political bias into our stories” and called it “censorship, both imposed and self-driven.”
Paramount settled a $16 million lawsuit with the Trump administration over a pre-election interview with Kamala Harris, spurring exits of CBS News executives Bill Owens and Wendy McMahon.
In late 2025, Weiss ordered a story about migrants sent to El Salvador held after it was promoted, later airing in January 2026; she acknowledged unfamiliarity with some newsroom practices.
“60 Minutes” generated $67 million to $69 million in ad revenue in 2024 and 2025, according to iSpot.
Correspondents can earn up to $5 million per year; executive producer around $2.5 million; executive editor around $1 million; senior producers $200,000–$300,000; associate producers up to $150,000; each story costs around $75,000 in travel, research, and photography.
Open questions
What steps correspondents Scott Pelley, Lesley Stahl, and Bill Whitaker might take; how Bilton plans to manage the program at reduced staffing; the status of correspondent Jon Wertheim.
Key figures
Nick Bilton, new executive editor of “60 Minutes”
Bari Weiss, CBS News editor in chief
Scott Pelley, “60 Minutes” correspondent
Lesley Stahl, “60 Minutes” correspondent
Bill Whitaker, “60 Minutes” correspondent
Anderson Cooper, former “60 Minutes” correspondent (left February)
Sharyn Alfonsi, former “60 Minutes” correspondent (fired)
Cecilia Vega, former “60 Minutes” correspondent (fired)
Draggan Mihailovich, former executive editor (ousted)
Tanya Simon, former executive producer (exited)
Guy Campanile, former producer (ousted)
Matthew Poelvoy, former producer (ousted)
Jon Wertheim, “60 Minutes” correspondent
Noah Oppenheim, former NBC News executive
Bill Owens, former “60 Minutes” executive producer (exited)
Wendy McMahon, former CEO of CBS news, stations and syndication (exited)
Major Garrett, CBS News Washington correspondent
Sources: Variety
