CBS Fires 60 Minutes Anchor Scott Pelley Amid Leadership Dispute

CBS Fires Veteran Journalist Scott Pelley Amid Staff Turmoil

US broadcaster CBS has terminated the contract of veteran journalist Scott Pelley, a longtime correspondent for its 60 Minutes programme. The decision comes after Pelley reportedly made comments during a staff meeting on Monday that criticized management and new producer Nick Bilton.

According to reports, Pelley expressed concerns about the direction of the show under new management, stating that it had lost its “DNA”. He also accused Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss of bringing in changes that were detrimental to the programme. In a statement, Pelley claimed that he was asked to inject false information into his work without explanation.

Bilton responded to Pelley’s comments, describing them as an “ambush” and stating that he had been unfairly maligned by his predecessor. The incident occurred during Bilton’s first meeting with staff, which was reportedly attended by several other high-profile correspondents who have recently departed the programme.

The controversy has added to the turmoil at 60 Minutes, which has seen over half a dozen departures in recent weeks. The show is owned by Skydance Media, which acquired CBS owner Paramount in August and installed Weiss as Editor-in-Chief in October. The acquisition was made with the promise of promoting diverse ideological perspectives on the network.

Pelley’s termination follows a leadership overhaul at 60 Minutes, which has been marked by significant changes to its editorial direction. The programme is one of the longest-running prime-time shows in US television history.

Source: Al Jazeera