Scott Pelley, a seasoned correspondent for ’60 Minutes,’ has voiced significant concerns about recent leadership changes at the CBS news program. During a staff meeting on June 1, Pelley accused the show’s editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss, of ‘killing the show,’ a sentiment he shared directly with the new executive producer, Nick Bilton.

Pelley, known for his long tenure and respected reporting, confronted Bilton, who took over as executive producer on May 28. Bilton, who has a background with The New York Times and Vanity Fair, was described by Pelley as having ‘slender qualifications’ for the role. Despite the heated exchange, Bilton reportedly remained unfazed by Pelley’s remarks.

The meeting, attended by CBS News managing editor Charles Forelle, also saw Pelley defending former staff members Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega, who were recently let go. Pelley criticized the network’s treatment of these correspondents, receiving a standing ovation from fellow staff members for his comments.

Alfonsi, who had been speculating about her departure, was praised by Pelley at the News Emmys on May 27 for her contributions to the program. The changes at ’60 Minutes’ have raised concerns among staff about the future direction of the show, especially following Anderson Cooper’s emotional farewell on May 17 after two decades with the program.

Despite the tensions, both Weiss and Bilton have expressed a desire to maintain Pelley as a key contributor to the show. Pelley, however, remains skeptical, questioning whether the ‘catastrophic’ changes seen in other CBS programs might also affect ’60 Minutes.’

Impact on ’60 Minutes’

The internal conflict at ’60 Minutes’ highlights broader concerns about leadership and direction in major news programs. As the most-watched news program in America, changes at ’60 Minutes’ could have significant implications for its viewership and credibility.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.