Former “60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Pelley has publicly accused CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss of dishonesty during a recent conference call, claiming that both Weiss and CBS president Tom Cibrowski exhibited hostility during a meeting held on Tuesday. Pelley alleges that they raised the possibility of his termination within the first moments of the discussion.
During a conference call reported by The Guardian, Weiss claimed efforts were made to engage with Pelley, but they could not reach a mutual understanding. Pelley refuted this characterization, labeling Weiss’ statement as disingenuous.
Weiss acknowledged Pelley’s contributions, referencing his notable reports, including one on Havana Syndrome and an interview with former Senator Ben Sasse, who is battling pancreatic cancer. Cibrowski, on the call, also recognized Pelley as an important member of the team and noted the challenges posed by ongoing changes within CBS News.
Pelley stated that after the contentious meeting on Tuesday, he met with Weiss, Cibrowski, and incoming “60 Minutes” executive producer Nick Bilton, but they did not address his inquiries regarding recent staff dismissals.
Pelley was let go on Tuesday, reportedly following an intense exchange with Bilton during an earlier staff meeting, where he questioned Bilton’s qualifications for his new role and confronted him about the firings of veteran “60 Minutes” staff members.
A letter from Bilton, obtained by the New York Times, indicated that Pelley was terminated “for cause effective immediately” due to what Bilton termed as Pelley hijacking his first staff meeting.
In remarks during the call, Weiss emphasized the need for a newsroom based on trust and mutual respect, which she claimed was compromised in the previous staff meeting. In Pelley’s response, he asserted that CBS News employees were misled and criticized the management for lack of transparency.
The staff meeting on Monday reportedly featured Pelley confronting Bilton over the decision to fire long-serving producers and correspondents. When Bilton expressed support for Weiss’s commitment to the network, Pelley countered by saying, “She is murdering ‘60 Minutes.’” Pelley accused Weiss of being brought in to dismantle the news division.
Pelley commented on his firing by highlighting the integrity and quality of the program, noting that it remains a leading program due to its dedication to storytelling. He critiqued CBS’s new ownership for sidelining veteran personnel in what he perceived as an effort to appease the Trump administration and mentioned that the recent changes have compromised the essence of “60 Minutes.”
Pelley’s dismissal coincides with a broader overhaul of “60 Minutes” under Weiss, who aims to adapt the show for modern viewership despite its ongoing success in ratings. Recent exits from the program also include correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega, along with other senior staff members.
This incident adds to the list of controversies surrounding CBS News in the wake of David Ellison’s acquisition of the network’s parent company and Weiss’s subsequent leadership changes, including previous uproar over editorial decisions regarding segments critical of the Trump administration.
Source: www.forbes.com via Google News.
