NEW YORK (AP) — Saying “We don’t want to see ‘60 Minutes’ die,” the three remaining correspondents at the turmoil-plagued CBS News present have determined to keep – for now.
A memo from Lesley Stahl, Jon Wertheim and Invoice Whitaker to fellow staffers at the CBS News present expressed anger over the current firings at the present, and stated the three had had “a tough time” deciding whether or not to keep — however finally determined to stay.
“Right here’s why we’re staying: We don’t want to see ‘60 Minutes’ die,” the three wrote in a joint memo obtained by The Related Press on Friday.
They expressed their remorse over the current firings of colleagues applied by Bari Weiss, the brand new CBS News editor-in-chief, and the manager producer she put in final week, Nick Bilton. HE changed Tanya Simon, who was let go alongside after a 30-plus yr tenure with the present, and correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega, amongst different prime staffers. Scott Pelley was then fired this week after a tense confrontation with CBS News bosses.
“We want to categorical how sorry we’re that these principled, truthful and trustworthy journalists had been handled so shabbily, with such indecency,” the three correspondents stated of their memo. However they stated they had been “working to construct belief” with Bilton, their new boss, and left open the chance that they might go away later, if want be.
“If we are able to proceed doing the work that made this present what it is — committing acts of impartial, fearless journalism and storytelling — we’re right here for it,” the three wrote. “If not, we go away.”
“Right here’s to Season 59!” the word ended.
Persuading the three to stay was an important step in Bilton’s job of getting the present again on monitor for the subsequent season, which launches in September.
The present is instantly down 4 correspondents. As well as to the three dismissed, Anderson Cooper — whose main job is on-air work for CNN — stated earlier this yr he was leaving of his personal accord after 20 years.
Bumps had been displaying at “60 Minutes” for greater than a yr. A lot of it got here after President Donald Trump sued the present over its enhancing of a 2024 interview with then-Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
That grew to become a part of a broader shakeup at CBS News after Weiss was named to the brand new position of editor-in-chief by guardian firm Paramount late final yr following David Ellison’s arrival because the community’s company chief.
Ellison’s firm, Skydance, merged with CBS guardian firm Paramount, which later settled the Trump lawsuit for $16 million. That upset some at “60 Minutes” and not directly led to the departure final month of common longtime CBS late-night host Stephen Colbert, who had referred to as the settlement “an enormous fats bribe.”
CBS News has been at the middle of the American broadcast-news ecosystem since its radio days earlier than the daybreak of tv, although Weiss earlier this yr introduced the shutdown of CBS News’ radio operation. The community’s nightly newscase was seen for many years as one of the crucial extensively trusted establishments within the nation underneath longtime anchorman Walter Cronkite.
Jocelyn Noveck covers the intersection of media and leisure for The Related Press.
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