PBS NewsHour reporter Jeff Bennett has released an excerpt from his interview with Steve Kroft, in which the "60 Minutes" legend said the direction the historic news program has taken under CBS News chief Bari Weiss has been "disastrous.".
«"This is journalistic interference," Croft said. "It makes no commercial sense. It's the highest-rated news program on television, and it has been for over 50 years. Last year, the audience grew by about 9%. Why interfere with that?"»
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The full version of Croft's interview, produced by PBS NewsHour, will air Wednesday at 4 p.m. PT.
The program "60 Minutes" has been under intense public scrutiny since Paramount-Skydance CEO David Ellison appointed Weiss as the new head of CBS News. Some accuse Weiss, who lacks experience in television journalism, of attempting to undermine one of the most respected news sources by exploiting political bias. The drama culminated in late May, when longtime executive producer Tanya Simon and correspondents Cecilia Vega and Sharyn Alfonsi were fired, and former NYT technology columnist Nick Bilton was hired as the program's head.
Just days later, it was reported that 60 Minutes veteran Scott Pelley had lashed out at Bilton during a staff meeting, claiming the new executive producer was "modestly qualified for the job." He also criticized Weiss, claiming she was "killing 60 Minutes" with her changes.
Late Tuesday evening, Bilton released a letter announcing that CBS executives and Pelley had failed to reach an agreement and that Pelley had been fired from "60 Minutes.".
«"Your opposition to the show's future has been made very clear," Bilton wrote. "And I have heard you. Therefore, on behalf of CBS News, I am writing to inform you that your employment with CBS is terminated effective immediately.".
Hours later, Pelley responded with his own letter, claiming that "incompetence and unprofessionalism" had "sowed chaos" at 60 Minutes for months.
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