Scott Pelley, a longtime correspondent for CBS News and “60 Minutes,” was dismissed from the network on Tuesday following a confrontation with new leadership, sparking a contentious dispute about the state and future direction of the program. Pelley, who joined CBS in 1989 and had been a fixture on “60 Minutes” since 2004, expressed sharp criticism of the network’s recent management changes and accused executives of attempting to compromise journalistic integrity.
Bari Weiss, CBS News editor in chief since October, addressed staff on Wednesday morning to explain the decision to part ways with Pelley. Weiss cited a breakdown in trust and mutual respect following a staff meeting on Monday during which Pelley reportedly accused Weiss of “murdering ‘60 Minutes’” and disparaged Nick Bilton, the newly hired tech journalist slated to lead the program’s upcoming season. Weiss said attempts to reconcile with Pelley were unsuccessful, leading to the termination.
In response, Pelley released a statement disputing Weiss’s claims of efforts to resolve the dispute. He characterized the meeting on Tuesday with Weiss, Bilton, and CBS News President Tom Cibrowski as hostile and said the network showed little willingness to engage with his concerns regarding the direction of “60 Minutes.” The firing follows a series of recent dismissals at CBS News, including the removal of “60 Minutes” executive producer Tanya Simon and correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega.
Pelley further accused the network’s new ownership of pressuring him to inject falsehoods and political bias into reporting. In a public statement, he alleged that management had instructed him to include unverified assertions in politically sensitive stories, which he said he resisted. He suggested the changes sought by the network aimed to curry favor with the Trump administration. Pelley expressed deep gratitude for his colleagues’ support over nearly four decades and voiced hope for a return to journalistic standards marked by integrity and courage.
Weiss, a journalist with a background in opinion writing and limited television experience, was appointed by David Ellison, a tech entrepreneur who acquired CBS’s parent company, Paramount. She has emphasized a desire to modernize CBS News and keep it competitive amid shifting media landscapes. During Wednesday’s staff call, Weiss praised Pelley’s work and the recent ratings success of “60 Minutes,” noting an audience increase of 9 percent from the previous year. She highlighted upcoming plans under Bilton’s leadership to continue producing strong journalism with the existing team and new hires, though she did not detail those personnel changes.
CBS News has not issued a formal public statement regarding Pelley’s firing. The episode unfolds amid notable turnover within “60 Minutes,” with three correspondents dismissed since Weiss’s arrival and another, Anderson Cooper, leaving voluntarily. The developments have stirred debate about the network’s editorial direction and management style as it navigates a competitive and politically charged media environment.