Scott Pelley isn't going quietly. The veteran correspondent «60 Minutes» and former host of the program «CBS Evening News responded to CBS News' firing on Tuesday. In a lengthy statement, Pelley accused CBS News management, led by Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss, of "incompetence and unprofessionalism" and made even more serious accusations, including that he was "directed to inject falsehoods and bias into politically sensitive material.".
On Tuesday, the day after a heated meeting with the staff of the program,« 60 minutes"» , new executive producer Nick Bilton fired Pelley, calling her inexperienced in television news and criticizing the management under Weiss. Pelley, in particular, claimed that Weiss was "killing"« 60 minutes“ . She doesn't like this place; she was invited to destroy it, and that's exactly what she's doing.".
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«"First of all, you need to hear it from me. We have parted ways with Scott Pelley," Bilton wrote in a memo to the program's staff on Tuesday. «60 Minutes» . "I know how much Scott meant to many of you, and I'm not saying this lightly. I tried to speak with him directly several times over the weekend, and I tried to find common ground this afternoon. Scott chose a different path.".
In a memo to Pelley, Bilton wrote: "Yesterday, you disrupted my first staff meeting to disparage me, my qualifications, and my intentions with astonishing rudeness and contempt. I welcome diversity of viewpoints and respectful discussions within the team, but this was far from what was needed.".
Later on Tuesday, Pelley released a statement announcing his resignation, reiterating the importance of the program. «60 Minutes» for American culture and that it is now under attack from outside forces.« 60 minutes “"For decades, it has been the number one program in America because our beloved audience finds integrity, quality, and humanity in our stories," Pelley writes. "Now our network's new owner is throwing that legend out the window, apparently to please the Trump administration.".
In his statement, Pelley makes a series of provocative accusations against CBS News management, including that they "instructed me to introduce falsehoods and bias into politically sensitive material. I was instructed to include allegations that were unsubstantiated." Pelley adds that he "managed to ignore or refuse these instructions.".
He also wrote: «Recently, politicians have been asked to choose correspondents for on-air interviews. Giving politicians control over on-air interviews «60 Minutes» "That's the wrong approach." Pelley is likely alluding to a recent interview on the program «60 Minutes» with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who reportedly chose the interviewer himself.
Pelley wrote that the "incompetence and unprofessionalism of the new management had wreaked havoc" on the newsroom, and in one particular instance involving one of his stories, "the entire program was 19 minutes away from not being aired at all.".
He lamented the situation in which such a respected organization as «60 Minutes» , and explained why he had to leave. "Most of the men and women of CBS News are still involved in this fight. But now the collapse of values at the highest level has become unbearable."« 60 minutes"» "It's no longer recognizable. The principles I hold dear are lost, so I must leave too.".
Pelley's full statement, delivered through Dylan Byers, is below:
There has never been anything like 60 Minutes in America.
The traditional Sunday program is the most successful in history. For over a decade, its innovative growth across all major online platforms has expanded its reach to millions of viewers worldwide. This spring, at the end of its 58th season, "60 Minutes" experienced unprecedented growth, achieving an unprecedented jump in viewership on CBS's 9%.
«For decades, "60" has been the number one program in America because our beloved audience finds honesty, quality, and humanity in our stories. When my colleagues and I took over the program, our responsibility became to energetically evolve it into the new era of media technology while preserving the values our audiences have come to expect. Now, our network's new owner is casting aside that legend, apparently to please the Trump administration.
It's horrible.
Last month, 60 Minutes lost its original essence when our entire management team and two of our best correspondents were brutally fired without cause. Good people were silenced because they stood up for our audience. They stood up for justice against the forces of political bias; they stood up for professionalism against chaos.
As for me, the new management tasked me with introducing falsehoods and bias into a politically sensitive story. I was instructed to include unsubstantiated claims. So far, I have never been able to ignore or refuse these instructions. Recently, politicians were asked to select correspondents for on-air interviews. Giving politicians control over interviews on "60 Minutes" is unacceptable. Finally, the incompetence and unprofessionalism of the new management have caused serious damage. In the case of one of my stories, the entire program almost failed to air.
At 60 Minutes, we fought tooth and nail to save a program that had become an American icon. We owed it to our millions of viewers. I was deeply touched by the thousands of messages encouraging us to "keep fighting." Most of the men and women of CBS News are still engaged in this fight. But now the collapse of values at the highest levels has become unbearable. The leadership of 60 Minutes is no longer recognizable. The principles I hold dear are lost, and so I, too, must go.
I leave after 37 years at CBS with one feeling: a heart overflowing with gratitude for the men and women of CBS News who supported and enriched my work, often at great personal risk. I pray for the day when these people and their ideals are once again honored—a day when common sense, competence, and courage return.
Scott Pelley
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