CBS News has dismissed longtime correspondent and former “CBS Evening News” anchor Scott Pelley following a confrontational exchange with new executive producer Nick Bilton during a staff meeting. The termination was communicated to Pelley via a letter from Bilton.
In the letter, Bilton criticized Pelley for his “performative display of hostility,” stating that it signaled a lack of interest in collaborating for the future success of the show. Bilton described Pelley as having “hijacked” the meeting to question his qualifications and intentions in a manner he deemed uncivil.
Bilton noted that after a private meeting on Tuesday, Pelley made it clear he was “not interested” in finding a way to move forward together. In a memo sent to 60 Minutes staff, Bilton acknowledged Pelley’s significance to many but stated that attempts to engage with him over the weekend were unsuccessful.
The exchange on Monday included Pellley’s accusations against CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss and Bilton regarding recent leadership changes and firings at CBS. Pelley also expressed concerns about Weiss’s qualifications and the impact of her changes to the program, referring to them as “catastrophic.”
In a statement after his firing, Pelley reflected on his long tenure at CBS, expressing gratitude for his colleagues and lamenting the changes that have occurred. He cited that he had been instructed to incorporate unverified claims into politically sensitive stories, which he consistently resisted.
A source familiar with CBS News leadership stated that both Weiss and Bilton had tried to privately communicate with Pelley about his role at 60 Minutes, feeling it was unfortunate that he aired his grievances publicly.
The contentious meeting was reported to have involved multiple instances of staff applause for Pelley when he condemned the recent firings as “cruel.” Bilton reportedly told Pelley during the meeting that he would not be intimidated, reaffirming his experience in journalism.
Weiss had recently informed staff of a need for a “new approach” at 60 Minutes, emphasizing the intention to adapt the show for the 21st century while maintaining its integrity and ambition.
Source: www.cbsnews.com via Google News.
