CBS's "60 Minutes" confronts staffing upheaval as new season approaches
"60 Minutes" prepares for its 59th season amid leadership changes, story-bank shortfalls and pressure to attract younger viewers.
CBS News is gearing up for the September 13 launch of the 59th season of its flagship newsmagazine, "60 Minutes," after a turbulent off-season that saw the dismissal of several senior editors and on-air talent. The shake-up, led by editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, included the removal of former executive producer Tanya Simon, executive editor Draggan Mahialvich and two senior correspondents, followed by the departure of veteran anchor Anderson Cooper.
New executive producer Nick Bilton has approved more than three dozen stories, with a dozen in editing, but the program traditionally relies on a bank of evergreen pieces to fill the demanding schedule that runs from late August through March. A former longtime producer noted that each producer is expected to have at least one fully produced segment ready for the season premiere and a second in production, a target that may be hard to meet after the recent staffing disruptions.
Bilton has also brought in new contributors, including former New York Times columnist Ross Douthat, author Sebastian Junger and former "CBS Evening News" anchor Norah O’Donnell, while retaining veterans Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker and Jon Wertheim. He plans to emphasize investigative reporting and explore the impact of artificial intelligence, echoing the show's historic coverage of major issues.
Industry observers say the show must balance efforts to reach younger, digital-first audiences with retaining its core older viewership. "The producers need to find a way to reach younger viewers where and when they consume news and information, but without turning away the older audience that still makes up most of the ratings," said Ben Bogardus, chair of Quinnipiac University's journalism department.
"60 Minutes" generated about $67 million in advertising revenue in 2025 and saw a 9 percent audience increase in its most recent season, underscoring its importance to CBS and its parent company Paramount Skydance. A decline in ratings could affect the network's Sunday NFL lineup, which the program helps sustain.
CBS declined comment on the internal changes. The upcoming season will test whether the restructured leadership and revised story pipeline can maintain the program’s long-standing reputation for in-depth reporting.