Former CBS Journalist Scott Pelley Criticizes Recent Changes at "60 Minutes"

Scott Pelley, a former senior correspondent for CBS News, told The New York Times that he believes recent personnel changes at the "60 Minutes" program reflect mismanagement rather than political interference. He said the removal of executive producer Tanya Simon and several senior producers, as well as the appointment of former tech reporter Nick Bilton to run the show, has left staff demoralized.

Pelley described the network’s leadership as "incompetent" and suggested that the changes were driven by a desire to modernize the program for the streaming era. He also claimed that editorial notes sent by editor-in-chief Bari Weiss shortly before a broadcast appeared to align with the Trump administration’s narrative on a Minneapolis shooting story, which he characterized as an unprecedented level of political influence in his 37‑year career at CBS.

A CBS News spokesperson rejected Pelley's allegations, stating that there is no political interference in the organization and that editorial feedback is intended solely to improve the accuracy and fairness of reporting. The spokesperson also said that Weiss’s comments to the production team were not politically motivated.

Weiss declined to comment on the interview. The recent restructuring at "60 Minutes" follows a series of firings in late May, which some staff members described as unexpected. Supporters of the changes argue that new leadership is needed to keep the long‑running newsmagazine competitive in a changing media landscape.

Pelley was terminated from CBS the day after a staff meeting in which he criticized Weiss and Bilton’s qualifications. Bilton said Pelley's conduct demonstrated a lack of willingness to collaborate on the program’s future. Former "60 Minutes" correspondent Armen Keteyian expressed public support for Pelley's statements on social media.