New “60 Minutes” executive producer Nick Bilton sent a memo to staffers after a tumultuous week that included the departures of correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega and the exit of Anderson Cooper, alongside internal conflict involving longtime corre
When Nick Bilton walked into his first week as executive producer of “60 Minutes,” he apparently knew he couldn’t just deliver a plan—he had to calm a room.
In a memo viewed by Business Insider. Bilton thanked staffers for their work after what he called “a hell of a first week.” He said he had spent significant time in conversation with many of them. “and especially in consultation with Lesley. Bill and Jon. ” referring to Lesley Stahl. Bill Whitaker. and Jon Wertheim.
Bilton’s reassurance comes after CBS moved quickly and publicly, including the departure of “60 Minutes” correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega, and Anderson Cooper’s exit following that same stretch of change.
The internal turmoil didn’t stop at staffing. Longtime “60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Pelley grilled Bilton—along with the qualifications of Bilton’s boss. CBS News top editor Bari Weiss—because neither Bilton nor Weiss. despite careers that included work at news organizations like The New York Times. had a background in TV news.
Pelley confronted Bilton on Monday during an inaugural all-hands meeting, after CBS let go of Alfonsi and Vega. Pelley also said Weiss was “murdering” the “60 Minutes” program, according to audio obtained by Status and The New York Times.
CBS then fired Pelley on Tuesday. In that moment, Bilton told the network veteran that his “antipathy to the future of the show has come through loud and clear.”
On Wednesday morning, Weiss addressed CBS News staffers in an editorial meeting and said the broadcast network “had to part ways” with Pelley. She added that she was “only interested in working in a newsroom that is built on trust and mutual respect.”
Bilton’s memo, dated Thursday, returned to the show’s identity as its anchor. He told staffers that “the foundation of 60 Minutes is its journalistic independence. ” writing that the program “will always pursue stories without fear or favor.” He also drew a hard line around who gets to steer the work. saying. “We will never be instructed by the ownership of the company on those stories.”.
He framed the broadcast schedule as a continuing commitment as well. “Sunday night works. ” Bilton wrote. calling it “the best hour of television journalism anywhere.” He said the team would continue “the scheduled screenings. the detailed script work. the editing. the long format of the pieces.” He described his own role as executive producer in active. hands-on terms—saying he would “shape the show writ large. ” “bat around ideas. ” “dive into scripts and edits. ” and “sign off on pieces.”.
At the center of Bilton’s attempt to stabilize the newsroom is also the question of who remains. Following the departures of Pelley, Alfonsi, Vega, and Anderson Cooper’s exit, only three full-time “60 Minutes” correspondents remain: Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker, and Jon Wertheim.
Bilton moved to put additional structure in place, too. He broke some news in the memo by naming Maria Gavrilovic as senior producer for “60 Minutes.”
In the memo itself, he also told staffers that “Discussion, debate and disagreement are essential to the making of good journalism.” He said those exchanges would be “done in good faith,” “always with respect and trust,” and “with fidelity to the practices that have served us well for 58 years.”
He then turned the attention to “the hard work of Season 59,” saying he wanted to “learn from you,” with people “who know this show intimately” by his side.
The message closes where it began: with gratitude and urgency. Bilton wrote. “Over the past few few days. I have thanked each of you for your work. and I will say it again here: thank you.” He reiterated the week’s stress in one blunt sentence—“It’s been a hell of a first week.”—before urging the team to “get to work.”.
60 Minutes Nick Bilton Scott Pelley Bari Weiss Maria Gavrilovic Lesley Stahl Bill Whitaker Jon Wertheim Sharyn Alfonsi Cecilia Vega Anderson Cooper CBS News executive producer memo journalistic independence newsroom trust