Bari Weiss preps major shakeup of ’60 Minutes’ – Business News
CBS News editor in chief Bari Weiss is poised for a major shakeup at “60 Minutes” — with layoffs slated for this summer season that would engulf some of the show’s prime expertise and producers, The Post has discovered.
The massacre is slated for June, a source with information mentioned. That’s after CBS News final month slashed 6% of its workforce — between 60 and 70 people — together with the shock shuttering of its 99-year-old radio division.
Insiders mentioned the March layoffs have been preceded by buyout gives at “CBS Evening News” that started hitting inboxes in late January, sparking chatter within the halls inside CBS News that the ritual will restart within the coming weeks — together with at “60 Minutes.”
CBS News editor in chief Bari Weiss is predicted to shake up “60 Minutes” and kick off one other spherical of layoffs in June. Getty Images for The Free Press
“They’re doing another round in June, and ’60 Minutes’ people are on the list,” an insider mentioned.
Sources mentioned Weiss needs to focus the storied TV information magazine more on scoops and hard-hitting investigative reporting — whereas downsizing what she has seen as an extra of “soft programming” this season.
“60 Minutes is a powerhouse program, and the probing, serious high-quality journalism that is its hallmark is vital to CBS News. We’re immensely excited about its future,” a spokesperson for the community instructed The Post.
“Bari wants to make the show harder,” one source instructed The Post. “No one is talking about ‘60 Minutes’ on Monday morning.”
“She wants to put her stamp on ‘60 Minutes’ and how you do that is you either get rid of the top producer or the top correspondent,” the source added.
The 42-year-old newshound has not been impressed with “60 Minutes’” reporting this season, which has included Cecilia Vega’s interview with mentalist Oz Pearlman, who showcased his mind-reading skills by guessing the identify of Vega’s third-grade trainer.
“60 Minutes” govt producer Tanya Simon is claimed to be in lock-step with Weiss over the need to make the legendary show more hard-hitting. CBS by way of Getty Images
Elsewhere, “60 Minutes” has currently performed segments on chess boxing, dog-aging analysis and why handmade Swiss watchers are so costly.
“Bari Weiss is not wrong to overhaul the show,” mentioned a longtime CBS exec, who agreed that new people needs to be introduced into the fold and that the show must lean into “harder reporting.”
This week, Variety reported that Weiss might substitute “60 Minutes” govt producer Tanya Simon, whose year-long contract is claimed to be up quickly. CBS insiders threw shade on that chance, with one noting that Simon seems to have “fallen in line” with Weiss and that such a transfer could be tantamount to “ransacking the place.”
As beforehand reported by The Post, Simon is lock-step with Weiss that the show has “gone soft” and there have already been discussions to overtake this system’s manufacturing ranks.
“60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Pelley has been mentioned as a potential casualty, however sources mentioned it might behoove the community to retain the journalist and slash his wage when his contract comes due. CBS by way of Getty Images
Scott Pelley, a common critic of the Trump administration and his own company overlords, has additionally been mentioned by higher-ups as a potential casualty, insiders mentioned. A source with information instructed The Post that Pelley’s contract is up subsequent yr and the company might buy him out earlier than that.
“Scott is the face of ‘60 Minutes’ and he’s not ready to retire,” a second source mentioned, noting that it’d behoove Weiss to re-up Pelley and cut down his lofty wage, which is estimated to be between $6.9 million and $8.5 million.
What’s more, in latest weeks, it seems that Weiss has been “warming” to Pelley, in keeping with a latest report from the Status e-newsletter.
As beforehand reported by The Post, David Ellison, CEO of CBS guardian Paramount Skydance, is claimed to “not be happy” with Pelley’s public criticism of his company bosses. At a graduation speech final summer season, the journo raged in opposition to President Trump and proclaimed that journalism is “under attack.”
“60 Minutes” is predicted to get a shake up below Weiss, who’s seeking to put her stamp on the show.
At a latest awards ceremony, Pelley sounded off concerning the state of “60 Minutes,” asserting that Paramount hasn’t had any affect on its reporting. Pelley additionally known as out Weiss for after she shelved a section on El Salvador’s CECOT jail, saying she needed to take her job “more seriously” during an inside assembly late final yr.
But with out Anderson Cooper – who didn’t renew his “60 Minutes” contract – “60 Minutes” has few boldface names, even when the community faucets Norah O’Donnell for a greater position on this system and it provides a few segments from new rent Matt Gutman subsequent season.
One level of consensus is that Weiss will need loyalists round her when she makes massive modifications to the storied information show, in order that she will be able to simply “break down silos” on the community.
Sharyn Alfonsi, the correspondent who did the CECOT section, has been rumored to be within the sizzling seat. Her contract is up subsequent month. Weiss has additionally bumped heads with Vega, sources famous.
In order to make approach for the subsequent technology, Weiss might additionally retire veteran correspondents Lesley Stahl, 84 and Bill Whitaker, 74, sources mentioned.
