The CBS news magazine 60 Minutes has undergone more head-swiveling upheaval and turmoil lately than it probably has in its entire decades-long history. Now, one of its most stellar veterans, correspondent Lesley Stahl, is opening up about what she is seeing. The anger, firings, and controversial changes in top leadership have evidently left her deeply troubled and reeling. In an interview with Puck, Stahl, 84, who has been a correspondent on the program since 1991, said, "This was by far the worst experience I've been involved in, or even witnessed. I mean, firing seven people, including the entire management team over here, plus reporters and producers..."
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What Led to Stahl's Eyebrow-Raising Remarks
There have been major developments behind the scenes at 60 Minutes coming thick and fast. Bari Weiss was installed as the new CBS News editor-in-chief. Some of her decisions ruffled the rank and file, in addition to her lack of experience in broadcast journalism.
Recently, several prominent staff members were let go, among them correspondents Cecilia Vega and Sharyn Alfonsi, and executive producer Tanya Simon. Executive editor Draggan Mihailovich also was given the boot. Finally, Scott Pelley, another stalwart at the program, allegedly exploded at Nick Bilton, the program's newly-hired executive producer. He is largely a tech journalist whose qualifications for the new role have also been questioned. Pelley reportedly lost his temper at Bilton during a staff meeting and was fired the next day.
Stahl and the Other Two Veteran Correspondents Vow They Are Remaining
Lesley Stahl and fellow correspondents Bill Whitaker and Jon Wertheim say they plan to remain aboard at 60 Minutes, despite the ongoing internal battles. The trio chose to decide that together, she told Puck. "[I]t was going to be the three of us, no matter what."
Per the Associated Press, the three issued a memo to their colleagues explaining their stance. "Here's why we are staying: We don't want to see '60 Minutes' die," the correspondents wrote. Furthermore, they noted, "We want to express how sorry we are that these principled, fair and honest journalists were treated so shabbily, with such indecency."
Per the outlet, "...[T]hey were 'working to build trust' with Bilton, their new boss, and left open the possibility that they could leave later, if need be."
She Observed That the Three Felt a Responsibility to Their Co-Workers
It sounds like Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker, and Jon Wertheim don't want to jump ship and leave their colleagues stranded. In fact, she even said this. "All these producers, associate producers, editors, even cameramen have just been standing paralyzed, waiting for us to tell them what we were going to do, and that really weighed heavily on us. We don't want to leave you, these lovely people we work with every day."
