**Turbulence at 60 Minutes: Former Correspondent Critiques Recent Changes**
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Steve Kroft, a veteran journalist known for his long tenure with CBS’s investigative news programme *60 Minutes*, has shared his concerns regarding recent upheavals within the show, describing them as “disastrous” for both the programme and its viewership. In an interview with *PBS NewsHour*, Kroft reacted to the shocking firing of his colleague, Scott Pelley, amidst broader staffing changes at CBS News.
Kroft, who retired from *60 Minutes* in 2019 after serving as a correspondent since 1989, voiced his dismay at the circumstances surrounding the terminations, particularly Pelley’s. The dismissal, which occurred on June 2, followed a tense meeting with the new executive producer, Nick Bilton—a figure central to the current controversies affecting the programme.
Amidst a wave of exits, including notable correspondents Cecilia Vega and Sharyn Alfonsi, the situation raises eyebrows about the direction CBS is taking with its flagship news magazine. Kroft lamented that the ongoing changes have been detrimental, stating, “It’s been going on for a long time,” and identified a troubling sequence of events that began with a controversial interview involving Vice President Kamala Harris, which resulted in a lawsuit from the Trump administration.
The suit, considered baseless by many in the industry, marked the beginning of a chain reaction affecting how the show is run. Kroft commented on how the fallout from that interview exemplified a larger trend of “journalistic interference” that has become apparent since the new leadership took control. He expressed deep concern over the motivations behind these changes, accusing the current leadership of reacting to external pressures rather than focusing on the programme’s successful history.
Kroft’s remarks came after accusations against CBS News president, Neeraj Khemlani, regarding alleged interference in the editorial integrity of the show. According to Kroft, Pelley had confronted Khemlani over the staffing changes, only to be met with silence. He added, “They don’t like the way CBS has been operated. They would like to see it taken off the air. They’ve said that a number of times.”
Amidst the challenges, Kroft defended the programme’s performance, highlighting its continued popularity with audiences. “The show is still doing very well. It’s the highest-rated news programme on television,” he remarked, pointing out that it has maintained an audience of approximately nine to ten million viewers—a testament to its enduring relevance in American broadcasting.
In contrast to his positive experiences at CBS, Kroft noted that Pelley had encountered instructive directives from the new executives that seemed aimed at diluting the editorial content with political biases. Pelley alleged that he was told to incorporate “falsehoods and bias” into politically sensitive segments, a stark deviation from Kroft’s own tenure where such outside influences were virtually nonexistent.
The tension culminated in a heated exchange after a staff meeting, as revealed in a termination letter obtained by *People*, where Bilton accused Pelley of “ambush” behaviour and labelled him as engaging in “misconduct.” Pelley, for his part, argued that CBS executives were more concerned with gaining favour with the Trump administration rather than maintaining journalistic integrity.
In a publicly shared statement about his departure, Pelley expressed his heartbreak over what he saw as a waste of the programme’s legacy, stating, “Now, the new owner of our network is casting this legend aside.” He condemned the perceived shift away from the principles that defined *60 Minutes*, calling upon the new management to honour the legacy of the storied investigative show.
Today, only three full-time correspondents remain with *60 Minutes*: Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker, and L. Jon Wertheim, as the programme navigates these turbulent changes. The future of *60 Minutes* hangs in the balance as it grapples with its identity against a backdrop of allegations of political influence and significant staffing upheaval.
In summary, as Kroft and others voice concerns about the direction being taken at CBS, the internal struggles within *60 Minutes* reflect deeper issues facing journalism in an era marked by intense political division and media distrust. The outcome of the current shakeups has the potential to reshape the programme and influence its dedicated audience, many of whom have relied on it for hard-hitting investigative journalism for decades.