Veteran "60 Minutes" correspondent terminated following heated meeting where he criticized network chief Bari Weiss and recent staff cuts.
1:37 AM
CBS News has fired Scott Pelley, a veteran correspondent at "60 Minutes," the network announced Tuesday. The termination came one day after a heated staff meeting in which Pelley clashed with network leadership over recent changes at the program.
Pelley, who joined CBS News in 1989 and has been with "60 Minutes" since 2004, openly criticized the direction of the longstanding newsmagazine during a Monday morning meeting. The meeting was held to introduce Nick Bilton, the show's newly appointed executive producer. Pelley questioned why Bilton would accept the role given the resistance from longtime staffers and took aim at CBS News chief Bari Weiss, accusing her of dismantling the culture that made "60 Minutes" a television institution. According to reports, Pelley said Weiss was "murdering" the news show.
The confrontation occurred in the context of significant recent changes at "60 Minutes." Last week, CBS News management fired the show's executive producer, executive editor, and two correspondents—Cecilia Vega and Sharyn Alfonsi—without providing specific reasons for their terminations. These cuts shocked staffers at the program.
During the Monday meeting, the room erupted in applause after Bilton left the gathering. A former CBS News executive said this reaction was a bad sign, indicating that staffers were "afraid" to speak their minds in front of leadership. The person noted that it should be essential for journalists to be able to debate and be heard without fear of retribution.
A letter terminating Pelley's contract was sent to him the following day, indicating the dismissal was immediate. CBS CEO George Cheeks had previously advised against major changes to "60 Minutes," according to reporting by Breaker Media late Tuesday. Cheeks reportedly cautioned against "blowing up" the respected, profitable and highly rated program.
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