CBS Faces Backlash Over Perceived Sabotage of '60 Minutes

WHO:

Alternet - Nick Bilton, the new executive producer of "60 Minutes," has no experience producing a television news show.

Alternet - Steve Schmidt, a longtime Republican strategist, criticized the changes at CBS News, describing them as a deliberate effort to support Trump’s political project.

Alternet - CBS News’s new editor-in-chief is Bari Weiss; executive producer Tanya Simon was removed; Nick Bilton was appointed as her replacement; correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega were also let go; Scott Pelley is a correspondent for "60 Minutes"; Steve Schmidt is a Republican strategist; Megyn Kelly is a former Fox host; Larry and David Ellison are the new owners of CBS.

WHAT:

Alternet - "60 Minutes" has remained the #1 news program for 50 straight years and consistently ranks among the top 10 of all Nielsen-rated television programs.

Alternet - "60 Minutes" generated $67.5 million in advertising revenues in one recent year.

Alternet - Scott Pelley accused Bari Weiss of “murdering” “60 Minutes” during a staff meeting, with others in attendance applauding his remarks.

Alternet - The segment titled “Inside CECOT,” which focused on an El Salvador maximum-security prison, eventually aired in January after additional reporting was conducted.

Alternet - Alfonsi described the decision to let her contract expire as a “deliberate choice to penalize a journalist for refusing to sanitize factually accurate reporting” that sends a “chilling message” to the newsroom.

Alternet - Cecilia Vega stated that her producing teams experienced efforts to insert political bias into their stories, leading to self-censorship among reporting teams.

CNN - Pelley depicted Weiss and new executive producer Nick Bilton as unqualified for their jobs and stated that Bilton would “never be welcome here.”

CNN - The meeting with Pelley ended without any clear resolution about the way forward for "60 Minutes."

Alternet - Critics, including Republican strategist Steve Schmidt, claim the changes at CBS News are a deliberate effort to support Trump’s political project, describing the situation as “sabotaged” under the new ownership of the Ellison family.

CNN - Pelley had previously declined Weiss and Bilton’s attempts to meet with him privately to discuss the shakeup at "60 Minutes."

Alternet - Bari Weiss, with no prior experience in broadcast news, was appointed to lead CBS News, and Nick Bilton, also without a background in TV news, replaced Tanya Simon as executive producer.

Alternet - Nick Bilton stated he is excited to take "60 Minutes" into the modern age, referring to it as "largely an unutilized news brand."

Alternet - Scott Pelley accused Bari Weiss of “murdering” “60 Minutes” during a staff meeting, with others in attendance applauding his remarks.

Alternet - The segment titled “Inside CECOT,” which focused on an El Salvador maximum-security prison, eventually aired in January after additional reporting was conducted.

Alternet - Cecilia Vega stated that her producing teams experienced efforts to insert political bias into their stories, leading to self-censorship among reporting teams.

CNN - Scott Pelley accused Bari Weiss of trying to “kill” the acclaimed newsmagazine during a contentious meeting with CBS News management.

CNN - Pelley depicted Weiss and new executive producer Nick Bilton as unqualified for their jobs and stated that Bilton would “never be welcome here.”

CNN - The meeting with Pelley ended without any clear resolution about the way forward for "60 Minutes."

Alternet - Scott Pelley accused Bari Weiss of “murdering” “60 Minutes” during a staff meeting, with others in attendance applauding his remarks.

Alternet - The segment titled “Inside CECOT,” which focused on an El Salvador maximum-security prison, eventually aired in January after additional reporting was conducted.

Alternet - Sharyn Alfonsi described the decision to let her contract expire as a “deliberate choice to penalize a journalist for refusing to sanitize factually accurate reporting” that sends a “chilling message” to the newsroom.

Alternet - Cecilia Vega stated that her producing teams experienced efforts to insert political bias into their stories, leading to self-censorship among reporting teams.

Alternet - CBS News announced a major shakeup of "60 Minutes," resulting in the firing of key production staff; "60 Minutes" has been the #1 news program for 50 straight years; it generates tens of millions in annual profit for CBS, with advertising revenues of $67.5 million in one recent year; Scott Pelley accused Weiss of “murdering” "60 Minutes" during a staff meeting; Weiss's decisions have been described as an attempt to “sabotage” the show for the benefit of Trump.