David Ellison Assures Lesley Stahl Of '60 Minutes' Editorial Independence
Deadline • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Paramount CEO David Ellison assured Lesley Stahl in a recent call that 60 Minutes will maintain editorial independence amid concerns following recent staff firings.
- The show faced turmoil after executive producer Tanya Simon and correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega were terminated, followed by Scott Pelley's firing after he confronted the new executive producer Nick Bilton.
- Stahl, along with correspondents Bill Whitaker and Jon Wertheim, vowed to stay with 60 Minutes while criticizing the treatment of their fired colleagues.
- Former correspondent Scott Pelley alleged corporate interference in editorial decisions, citing attempts by CBS News editor in chief Bari Weiss to influence coverage of a controversial shooting incident.
- CBS News defended Weiss’ involvement as standard editorial process, and Paramount declined to comment on the matter.