CBS fires top journo after criticism of news regime

Scott Pelley
Scott Pelley has been fired by CBS after he slammed the new regime of the network's news department. -AP

CBS News in the United States has terminated the contract of 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley, joining more than half a dozen departures in recent weeks.

"Your antipathy to the future ‌of the show has come through loud and clear. And I have heard you," the ‌show's executive producer, Nick Bilton, wrote in a Tuesday email to Pelley that was seen by Reuters.

"I therefore write on behalf of CBS News, Inc. ("CBS") to inform you that your employment with CBS is terminated for cause effective immediately."

Pelley did not immediately respond ‌when reached for ‌comment.

His termination ⁠from the network came amid media reports that he accused ​CBS News' editor-in-chief Bari Weiss of "murdering" 60 Minutes.

In a note to the show's staff, which was seen by Reuters, Bilton said the network had parted ways with Pelley and acknowledged "the great deal of change in a very short time" at 60 Minutes.

Pelley joins more than ⁠half a dozen people who have ‌departed the ​Sunday news magazine, which is the longest-running prime-time show in the US, in recent ​weeks.

CBS fired ‌Tanya Simon, the previous executive producer, as well as correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia ​Vega.

Skydance Media, run by David Ellison - the son of Larry Ellison, a co-founder of Oracle and a longtime supporter of President Donald Trump - acquired Paramount in ​August ​and installed Weiss in October ​as editor-in-chief.

David Ellison helped secure regulatory approval ‌for the deal, which created Paramount Skydance, with the promise that the CBS network would reflect the "varied ideological perspectives" of American viewers.

Prior to the deal, Paramount paid $US16 million ($A22 million) to settle a 2024 lawsuit that Trump filed over a 60 Minutes interview with former vice president ​Kamala Harris, which he said gave a distorted view of his rival for ​the White House.