On Wednesday's program CBS Evening News News anchor Tony Dokoupil paid tribute to his former colleague Scott Pelley, who was fired from his position at the CBS program. 60 Minutes on Tuesday, June 2.
«"When I started at CBS, Scott Pelley sat in this very chair and was still doing a dozen reports a year for the program «"60 minutes". "And he met with every new correspondent to share his vision of the company's mission," Dokoupil said. "He believed that freedom of the press, to quote [James] Madison, was 'the right that guarantees all others.' And the stakes were always so high, because if you made it to CBS News, you were among the best in the world. He worked every day to live up to that standard.".
The video then featured a montage celebrating Pelley's remarkable career. It included footage of his reporting from the scene of the September 11th tragedy, where he remained for several days covering the rescue efforts. The video also showcased his work on the front lines of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as his willingness to travel to dangerous zones around the world in search of the truth. The montage celebrated his numerous Emmy awards, his high-profile interviews with presidents, and his reputation as a journalist who valued truth above all else.
After the video montage, Dokoupil continued his tribute. «Of course, there were interviews with presidents, from Bush to Biden. And more than 50 Emmy Awards. In a way, he was a man from another era, and that’s not a criticism. He didn’t watch the awards, he said, because he knew who he was. A journalist who valued the truth at any cost. And always cherished the memory of colleagues who died in service,« Dokoupil said. »A reminder that his chosen profession could be dangerous. But Pelley also made one important break with the past. He changed the signage here. Under the CBS Evening News logo, where Scott Pelley’s name should have been, he wrote:» CBS Evening News "With all of us." Well, Scott, from all of us, thank you.".
Dokupil was invited by Bari Weiss as the host of the program CBS Evening News . Weiss, appointed editor-in-chief of CBS News, chose the former anchor CBS Mornings to oversee a major restructuring of the channel's programming. The editorial overhaul under Weiss's leadership has been plagued by internal disagreements. Recent staff changes have led to the departure of longtime program veterans «60 minutes, like Pelli, Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega.
Pelley was fired after an alleged conflict with the show's new executive producer, Nick Bilton, during a staff meeting. According to the New York Times, Bilton told staff that CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss "adored 60 minutes »", to which Pelly replied, "She kills. 60 minutes . She doesn't like this place; she was brought in to destroy it, and that's exactly what she's doing." Pelley reportedly told Bilton he was "weakly qualified" for the job, saying he would "never be accepted there," and then criticized Weiss's decision to take control. CBS Evening News .
Following Bilton's dismissal letter, Pelley responded: "As for me, I was tasked by new management to insert falsehoods and bias into a politically sensitive story." Pelley did not specify which story he was referring to. A CBS spokesperson responded with a statement: "There is no political interference at CBS News, neither from the owners nor from Bari Weiss. The only 'interference' is the normal dialogue between an editor and a reporter that occurs in every newsroom.".
In a statement released after his firing, Pelley accused the new CBS News executives of trying to curry favor with President Donald Trump and said that 60 Minutes program »"has lost its DNA" due to the "incompetence and unprofessionalism of new management," which "has brought chaos" to the airwaves. He concluded his statement: "I am deeply touched by the thousands of wishes we've received to 'keep fighting.' Most of the men and women of CBS News are still in this fight. But now the collapse of values at the highest level has become unbearable. Management"« 60 minutes“ "It's no longer recognizable. The principles I hold dear are gone, so I must go too.".
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