Ariel Levy, New Yorker Staff Writer, Joins '60 Minutes' as Contributor
Variety • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Ariel Levy, a staff writer at The New Yorker known for her work on sexuality and culture, will join "60 Minutes" as a contributor as part of a broader revamp led by CBS News editor in chief Bari Weiss.
- The show is undergoing a major overhaul with new correspondents like Ross Douthat, Sebastian Junger, and Gianna Toboni joining, replacing longtime staffers ousted to appeal more to digital and younger audiences.
- Executive producer Nick Bilton praised Levy for her unique reporting style and experience covering culture, gender, and sexuality over nearly three decades at major publications.
- The 59th season of "60 Minutes" faces challenges including low morale, fewer staffers to develop stories, and the pressure to maintain its significant advertising revenue, which ranges around $67-$69 million annually.
- Recent controversies and management changes at CBS News, including settlements and executive departures, have added complexity to the show's efforts to modernize and retain its influence.
