CBS News Fires Scott Pelley From 60 Minutes
CBS News has fired veteran reporter Scott Pelley from 60 Minutes. Pelley had accused CBS News leaders of 'murdering' the news show at a staff meeting.
He made the accusation while directly confronting new executive producer Nick Bilton. Pelley was then fired 'for cause' via a letter from Bilton.
On Wednesday editor-in-chief Bari Weiss spoke to CBS News staff about the firing. Weiss said trust was broken with Pelley and leaders could not 'find a way back' with him.
But Pelley rejected her explanation in a public statement. The firing ends Pelley's nearly 40-year career at CBS News.
It follows the recent firings of correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega and executive producer Tanya Simon. 60 Minutes has now lost most of its full-time reporters. Weiss was hired as editor-in-chief last year and CBS News has faced a series of problems since.
Key Terms 4
- 60 Minutes A long-running CBS News TV show known for investigative journalism
- editor-in-chief The top person in charge of a news organisation
- fired for cause Dismissed due to specific serious wrongdoing by the employee
- executive producer The senior person who runs and oversees a TV programme