The turmoil-stricken CBS News show, 60 Minutes, will continue with its three remaining correspondents, Lesley Stahl, Jon Wertheim, and Bill Whitaker, who have decided to stay, expressing their commitment to prevent the show from facing demise. In a joint memo obtained by The Associated Press, the trio conveyed their frustration over recent dismissals at the show by new CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss and executive producer Nick Bilton. Among those let go were long-serving staff members including Tanya Simon, Sharyn Alfonsi, Cecilia Vega, and Scott Pelley, who was fired following a contentious encounter with CBS News management.
While expressing regret over the treatment of their former colleagues, the three correspondents voiced their intention to maintain a working relationship with Bilton, emphasizing their dedication to upholding the show’s tradition of independent and fearless journalism. They left the possibility open for reconsideration in the future, depending on the circumstances. The correspondents concluded their message with a hopeful note for the upcoming Season 59.
The decision of Stahl, Wertheim, and Whitaker to stay marks a significant development in Bilton’s efforts to steer the show back on track for its next season premiere in September. The departure of four correspondents, including those dismissed and Anderson Cooper, who announced his voluntary exit, has left the show facing challenges over the past year. The show’s troubles escalated following a legal dispute with former U.S. President Donald Trump over an interview edit involving Kamala Harris.
The changes at CBS News unfolded following Weiss’s appointment as editor-in-chief and the settlement of the Trump lawsuit by parent company Paramount. The settlement, amounting to $16 million US, drew criticism and internal discontent, notably from some 60 Minutes staff and late-night host Stephen Colbert, who raised concerns over the network’s integrity. Despite the recent upheavals, CBS News remains a prominent fixture in the U.S. broadcast news landscape, tracing its legacy back to its radio origins and the era of renowned anchor Walter Cronkite.