Former '60 Minutes' Correspondent Exposes Tensions with CBS News Leadership

Scott Pelley, a former correspondent for '60 Minutes,' criticized CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, alleging she misled staff during a recent conference call. Pelley stated that Weiss and the network’s president Tom Cibrowski were confrontational from the outset and mentioned his potential termination shortly after their meeting commenced.

Weiss, on the call, emphasized the importance of trust and respect within the newsroom, asserting that the foundation of their work had been undermined during a prior staff meeting. Pelley refuted her claims, suggesting that the CBS News leadership could not regain staff trust through dishonesty, which he described as contrary to journalistic principles.

During the contentious staff meeting, Pelley confronted Weiss's commitment to the show, stating that she was effectively harming '60 Minutes.' He went on to criticize her management style, claiming she was appointed by CBS’s new owners to dismantle the news division. In a memo, producer Bilton noted his attempts to communicate directly with Pelley but claimed he faced rejection.

In stark comments about his termination, Pelley remarked that '60 Minutes' had maintained its status as a leading news program due to its integrity, and he lamented losing its foundational elements under new management. Pelley further accused the incoming leadership of encouraging biased reporting, which he chose not to follow.

Pelley’s dismissal is part of broader leadership changes initiated by Weiss, who aims to modernize the show despite its strong ratings. This overhaul follows significant changes at CBS News since the acquisition by David Ellison, with Weiss's tenure marked by several controversies, including the abrupt cancellation of a segment intended to spotlight migrant conditions, which faced pushback from staff members regarding its political implications.