’60 Minutes’: Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker & Jon Wertheim Announce Future With the Show
What To Know
- Despite recent major staff changes and the firing of Scott Pelley, Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker, and Jon Wertheim have confirmed they will remain with 60 Minutes.
- The show has seen significant turnover under editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, including the departures of executive producer Tanya Simon and several correspondents.
- New executive producer Nick Bilton expressed support for the remaining trio and acknowledged ongoing changes aimed at reaching new audiences and platforms.
There have been some seismic shifts in the makeup of 60 Minutes under the Bari Weiss era at CBS News — most recently, the ouster of Scott Pelley, who was sharply critical of the editor-in-chief. However, a new report indicates that there are some stalwarts of the show who are expected to stay right where they are.
Variety reports that the trio announced their intention to stay with the newsmagazine on Friday (June 5) in a memo, writing, “We have decided to stay on.”
Even so, their letter also expressed their dismay over the state of the show at present: “We have had a hard time deciding whether to stay at 60 Minutes. We’re still deeply upset by the firings of Tanya and Draggan, strong leaders who everyone respected. As far as we can tell — because no explanation has ever been offered, they were expelled because they fought for our 60 Minutes values and stood up to protect our independence and integrity. Newsrooms are not supposed to be run like dictatorships. Collaboration and argument are the way we have always worked at 60. Don Hewitt actually encouraged loud passionate advocacy for our pieces.”
The news came after a tornado of turnover for the program, including the exits of executive producer Tanya Simon, executive editor Draggan Mihailovich, and the firings of Sharyn Alfonsi, Cecilia Vega, and Pelley.
Prior to the announcement from Stahl, Whitaker, and Wertheim, there were questions emerging about their future on the series amid all of the turmoil — the most recent report indicated Stahl, at least, would stay and had already begun filming for next season.
Recently, Weiss announced that Simon would be replaced by tech journalist and filmmaker Nick Bilton.
Pelley’s ouster came on the heels of the longtime correspondent speaking out against the personnel and policy changes of Weiss’ tenure. Pelley reportedly voiced his concerns at a June 1 staff meeting, accusing Weiss of “murdering” the series and saying that Bilton had “slender qualifications” for the job. Pelley was then fired “for cause.”
Despite Pelley’s termination and the questions about the future of the program that resulted from all of the firings and personnel shifts, Bilton reportedly was fond of the trio who have now decided to remain with it.
In a note to staff, he wrote, “Team, it has been a trying and difficult few days. I know that. I’ve spent a lot of time in conversation with many of you, and especially in consultation with Lesley, Bill, and Jon. We talked about what makes 60 Minutes exceptional, about the traditions and legacy of the past, about how you do the work that produces such momentous pieces. We also talked about change: About new audiences, new platforms, and new ways of storytelling that these new audiences need. We’ll speak more about that in the weeks to come.”
60 Minutes, Sundays, 7/6c, CBS
Conversation15 Comments
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G
While I like and respect the final three, I’m a bit disappointed that they drank the kool-ade. I really hope they stick to they’re guns and continue to stand up to what they believe .
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A
Yet, be honest now, had they fired them you’d be on here raising heck. True ?
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G
False, just means that CBS has a one mind agenda and it won’t change until the Dictatorship leaves office hopefully sooner than later
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A
That Didn’t answer in any way the question I asked you but oh well. I know liberals have a tendency to reject and redirect so it’s understandable.
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A
"60 Minutes" as it had been for the past 57 years will not be the same program from this point forward...
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A
True. Seems like they’ll no longer be a mouthpiece for the liberal left.
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B
I quit watching 60 Minutes back in the mid nineties when I learned how they manipulated interviews, including set arrangements, to achieve a certain end. I wouldn’t mind seeing these three get letters, too, and allow the program to regain it’s credibility.
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H
I want to know what leverage Trump had on CBS to have them make these changes .Indeed there is something very frightening going on and no one seems to be able or willing to put a stop to it
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A
CBS no longer being a mouthpiece for the liberal left has you terrified I’m sure. 🙄
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E
Integrity is dead at CBS
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A
In you’re opinion.
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G
I would fire them regardless … pay a bit of a penalty for age discrimination ( or what not) and be done with them. Small $ relative to the shinangens their ritchieous liberal virtues will burden you with down the road. Who would hire these two anyways !!
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A
If the remaining Big Three are given full and free rein it’ll be the usual TDS riddled stuff. CBS has realized that the U.S. is not All liberal left. They haven’t had many conservatives for many years. But Independents were also getting sick of the endless TDS. So the network made the Needed changes. And they Might have to delve even deeper. On Pelley it’s not a good idea to essentially tell your boss to stick it ! In his egotistical arrogance Pelley thought he could and get away with it. Wrong !! Everyone is replaceable. From Presidents, Journalists to Janitors Oops excuse me Sanitary Maintenance Technicians. We All are replaceable. And the world will still go on. Only Christ Jesus is irreplaceable ! 🙏
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L
Ive watched 60 minutes since I was a kid but ive decided that the changes they are making which I hate so I won't be watching anymore, one-sided news is not my thing st all!!!💔
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A
If one sided is you’re problem one would think you’d have stopped watching years ago.
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