FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has voiced strong criticism of former CBS journalist Scott Pelley, following Pelley’s recent departure from the network. Carr’s comments come after Pelley, a veteran correspondent for ’60 Minutes,’ was unexpectedly fired after a heated exchange with the program’s new executive producer, Nick Bilton.

Legacy Media Under Scrutiny

In a post on social media platform X, Carr suggested that Pelley’s reaction to his dismissal highlights a broader issue within legacy media, where journalists may be perceived as out of touch with the realities of the workplace. Carr stated, “One of the reasons why trust in media is so low is because many legacy journalists are completely out of touch.” He further commented that such behavior would not be tolerated in a typical work environment.

Pelley, who had a distinguished 37-year career at CBS News, expressed surprise at his firing, noting that he did not anticipate being terminated following his confrontation with Bilton. The meeting reportedly followed a series of dismissals within the ’60 Minutes’ team, which Pelley described as a “Black Thursday massacre.”

Editorial Changes and Political Influence

Pelley also criticized CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, who was appointed under new ownership after David Ellison’s acquisition of Paramount. Pelley accused Weiss of pushing for editorial changes on a politically sensitive ’60 Minutes’ segment involving protests and an immigration enforcement shooting in Minneapolis, suggesting that the changes would have favored former President Donald Trump’s perspective. CBS News has denied any political motivation, stating that the editorial notes were intended to ensure the piece was strong, fair, and accurate.

As the FCC seeks to shift power from national programmers to local broadcasters, Carr’s comments underscore ongoing debates about media trust and the role of legacy media in today’s information landscape.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.