Could Joe Rogan be joining 60 Minutes?
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Rumors that the popular podcaster could be joining the esteemed CBS News magazine have been circulating since March. With Scott Pelley's firing earlier this week and Anderson Cooper's departure last month, the possibility of Rogan's hiring now seems more plausible.
Why Is Joe Rogan Even Being Considered?
According to RADAR, which first reported the story back in March, an insider said that hiring Rogan "opens a direct pipeline to the massive MAGA audience CBS has struggled to reach for years."
For context, over 11 million people reportedly listen to The Joe Rogan Experience daily.
"You bring in Rogan, and you immediately gain a core connection to over 50 percent of the country," said an unnamed media executive. "He speaks to viewers who feel ignored or mocked by legacy media. That could solve the ratings and credibility problems of CBS overnight."
And though the podcaster is known for his curious nature, he isn't a journalist, which raises another question about whether he fits in with the show's aesthetic.
Says one producer, "He's raw, unscripted, and polarizing. That could either electrify 60 Minutes or blow it up."
What's Been Happening at "60 Minutes"?
Yesterday, we reported that CBS News fired veteran correspondent Pelley. This comes after he launched a tirade against editor-in-chief Bari Weiss and newly appointed executive producer Nick Bilton.
"I am here to deliver first-in-class news programming, not to make headlines about newsroom drama," Bilton wrote. "Your antipathy to the future of the show has come through loud and clear. And I have heard you."
Pelley's comments came after news that reporters Cecilia Vega and Sharyn Alfonsi will no longer be on the show. In addition, executive producer Tanya Simon was replaced by Bilton, a documentary filmmaker.
"In recent months, my producing teams and I have experienced efforts to insert political bias into our stories," said Vega. "Reporting teams have held back on submitting story pitches about important news topics out of fear of the internal repercussions. Let's call this what it is: censorship, both imposed and self-driven. It is dangerous for the show and dangerous for democracy."
Cooper announced in February that he was not renewing his contract with 60 Minutes. The 58-year-old shared that he was leaving to focus on his family.
Could Rogan Be Hired?
Despite the chatter, it doesn't seem likely that Rogan will be in front of the camera any time soon. As Forbes reports, CBS News spokesperson Jeremy Adler called the rumors that the podcaster will replace Cooper "false."
