Scott Pelley, a veteran correspondent for CBS News’s 60 Minutes, reportedly launched a blistering attack on the network’s new leadership during a staff meeting. According to sources, Pelley accused editor-in-chief Bari Weiss of ‘murdering’ the iconic news programme and claimed she was brought in specifically to ‘kill it.’ He also questioned the ‘slender’ qualifications of new executive producer Nick Bilton.
Meeting Turns Heated
The meeting was convened to introduce Bilton, who assumed his role after his predecessor and several other staff members were dismissed last week amid ongoing turmoil at the network. Pelley’s outburst highlights deep-seated tensions within CBS News, particularly around the direction of 60 Minutes under Weiss’s leadership.
Weiss’s Controversial Tenure
Weiss, appointed by tech billionaire David Ellison, has faced criticism for allegedly shifting the network’s editorial stance to the right. Internal disputes have been rife, with reports of conflicts over story selection and editorial independence. One notable incident involved Weiss ordering the temporary spiking of a 60 Minutes segment on a mega-prison in El Salvador, where the Trump administration deported migrants.
Pelley’s comments underscore the growing discontent among veteran staff, who fear that the programme’s journalistic integrity is being compromised. The network has not officially responded to the reported remarks.
