MINNEAPOLIS — News correspondent Scott Pelley was terminated from a Sunday newsmagazine program by executive producer Nick Bilton. Pelley had publicly accused Bari Weiss of politicizing coverage and interfering editorially.
Pelley stated he received editorial notes to depict protesters as more violent during a report on Minneapolis demonstrations. He said Weiss directed him to describe Renee Good's car as driving toward the officer. Pelley stated, "Weiss's directive was aimed at putting a thumb on the scale for the president's version of events." A corporate representative stated, "There is no credible argument that Weiss was trying to exert political influence."
Bilton issued a letter stating leadership and Pelley failed to reach common ground. He wrote, "I therefore write on behalf of the network to inform you that your employment with the network is terminated effective immediately."
Pelley stated Weiss should be removed, saying, "The network is on fire." He alleged Weiss is negatively impacting the program and claimed incompetence had impacted it for months.
In late May, Tanya Simon, Cecilia Vega, and Sharyn Alfonsi were terminated. News correspondent Steve Kroft stated the program's editorial direction under Weiss is "disastrous." He said, "This is journalistic interference."
Lesley Stahl, Jon Wertheim, and Bill Whitaker announced in a joint letter they will remain with the program. They stated, "We don't want to see the program die." They wrote that newsrooms should foster collaboration rather than operate as dictatorships. They expressed concern over the dismissal of Simon and her staff. Bilton announced Maria Gavrilovic will serve as the program's new senior producer.