CBS News Turns Right

[WriteThinking]

So is 60 Minutes entering into the Sports Illustrated post-Time-Life era kinda thing?

No -- worse, if all it does is cater to Trump.

 

[DanOregon]

If the guy was reaching out to Pelley and being rebuffed ahead of the meeting, then getting called out during the meeting? I have no doubt Pelley knew what he was doing. He's 68, it's not like he had a bunch of years left. He'll get a bunch of "profiles in courage" journalism awards that typically go to those who lose their jobs for standing up for journalism. Hopefully, he'll land a gig on NewsHour for occasional reports or something like that.

 

[Slacker]

Yep, Pelley knew what would happen.
He took one for the team and is stronger for it.
The entire story went viral with his name out front.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

Was there ever a doubt that the Ellisons and Bari Weiss were going to turn "60 Minutes" directly into the ditch the moment they could?

 

[Sam Mills 51]

Yep, Pelley knew what would happen.
He took one for the team and is stronger for it.
The entire story went viral with his name out front.

The more remarkable thing about this is Pelley's reputation is that of a low-profile sort. He was the anchor of the CBS Evening News for a while, but the network didn't play it up and neither did Pelley. He gladly went back to largely working pieces in the field and for "60 Minutes."

Any journalism award the man receives is likely to be richly deserved. He's already paid a price.

 

[maumann2]

Scott Pelley has 40 Emmys.

Bari Weiss and Nick Bilton might not be able to spell Emmy.

 

[exmediahack]

Everyone actually comes out of this with their objectives intact.

Weiss and Bilton clear $1-2M off the books with Pelley leaving, especially for cause.

Now Pelley doesn't have to be there. Unless he's into getting divorced and a coke habit, he's got enough money stashed away.

This also frees Pelley to go to NewsHour or NPR or The Atlantic. Wherever he's a better fit.

Scott Pelley is a true journalist with a room full of trophies for his work.

However, the pace at which he talks... can be a very tough listen and watch.

He drags out every syllable, every word and - if it's a story he's on that you don't care - you won't stick through it.

It's why Pelley doing the CBS Evening News was a good stopgap but didn't make the viewers any younger.

 

[Jake from State Farm]

Everyone actually comes out of this with their objectives intact.

Weiss and Bilton clear $1-2M off the books with Pelley leaving, especially for cause.

Now Pelley doesn't have to be there. Unless he's into getting divorced and a coke habit, he's got enough money stashed away.

This also frees Pelley to go to NewsHour or NPR or The Atlantic. Wherever he's a better fit.

Scott Pelley is a true journalist with a room full of trophies for his work.

However, the pace at which he talks... can be a very tough listen and watch.

He drags out every syllable, every word and - if it's a story he's on that you don't care - you won't stick through it.

It's why Pelley doing the CBS Evening News was a good stopgap but didn't make the viewers any younger.

One of the best things that ever happened to PBS and Miles O’Brien was CNN letting O’Brien go

 

[Sam Mills 51]

Scott Pelley has 40 Emmys.

Bari Weiss and Nick Bilton might not be able to spell Emmy.

No, but they do dirty work for someone who is always about "M"-"E" ...

 

[Shropshire Slasher]

Did anyone ever tell MAGA that “Murder … She Wrote” was just a TV show and not a blueprint for Biased Bari to actually kill off 60 Minutes?

Except on the West Coast.

 

[playthrough]

So is 60 Minutes entering into the Sports Illustrated post-Time-Life era kinda thing?

Jon Wertheim (who is a great guy) still having a foot in both feels like a trivia answer.

 

[HanSenSE]

So is 60 Minutes entering into the Sports Illustrated post-Time-Life era kinda thing?

I think I'll stick to my Samsung phone for splits next time I cover track instead of a 60 Minutes stopwatch.

 

[sgreenwell]

I think I'll stick to my Samsung phone for splits next time I cover track instead of a 60 Minutes stopwatch.

Well I mean of course you shouldn't trust 60 Minutes to make a stopwatch, its right there in the name!

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

Exclusive look at the meeting that got Scott Pelley canned:

 

[dixiehack]

I’m on Pelley’s side here. What I have noticed is a lot of lefties in the blogger-podcaster axis churning out posts about how shocking it is that he got fired after that. That’s like saying you were shocked Earl Weaver got ejected after kicking dirt on the umpire.

 

[exmediahack]

I still hate that ******* stopwatch.

Means that my weekend is over and time to get the **** beaten out of me on the playground on Monday, while the teachers looked the other way, was approaching.

 

[SixToe]

If they’re honestly shocked he got fired after torching the two bosses, they’re dumber than hammers in swamp mud.

 

[dixiehack]

I still hate that ******* stopwatch.

Means that my weekend is over and time to get the **** beaten out of me on the playground on Monday, while the teachers looked the other way, was approaching.

Is it wrong I heard this in Andy Rooney’s voice?

 

[WriteThinking]

After being fired, Pelley desputes what Weiss told 60 Minutes staffers regarding attempts to mend fences. It's a "he said/they said" sort of situation, of course, but I believe Pelley on this:

MSN

Fired “60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Pelley unloaded on CBS News head Bari Weiss in a statement on Wednesday morning after it was reported she told staffers the network tried to mend fences with the distinguished correspondent.

According to the New York Times, the controversial Weiss met with Pelley to go over his criticism of her tenure and for pointing out that newly anointed “60 Minutes” executive producer Nick Bilton was over his head and unqualified to oversee the legendary news magazine. He was later fired by email.

Wednesday morning Weiss told staffers, “Despite our attempts to engage with Scott Pelley and to find a way back, unfortunately we weren’t able to do so, and so we had to part ways. We did not want that to happen, but that’s the path that he chose.”

In a statement released hours later, Pelley fired back and called the CBS News head a liar while pointing out that mention of his firing led off the meeting with Weiss, Bilton and CBS News President Tom Cibrowski, who flew into a rage and showed Pelley the door.

“Bari Weiss knows what she said is not true,” Pelley reported. “In the meeting on Tuesday, in which I was effectively fired, there was no effort of any kind to ‘find a way back,’ as Weiss said in the editorial meeting. At no point did anyone in the Tuesday meeting suggest that there could be steps taken by either side that would lead to a resolution. Weiss and Tom Cibrowski were openly hostile from the start. ‘Firing’ was raised by Cibrowski in the first 15 seconds. No CBS executive, at any time, suggested ‘a way back.’ To say so now is disingenuous. And they know it.”

He added that he asked Weiss multiple questions about the firings she initiated that have gutted “60 Minutes,” only to have her repeat over and over again, ”I’m not answering that question.”

Stating the CBS executives were “abrupt and dismissive,” he stated Cibrowsk blew up and announced, “This conversation is over!” twice, “raising his voice and standing to show me the door.”

In a statement to @benmullin.bsky.social, Scott Pelley disputes what Bari Weiss said in this morning's editorial meeting, claiming he was never offered "a way back" as she claimed."These executives cannot gain the trust of the staff with lies. This is antithetical to everything we stand for..."

 

[WriteThinking]

I've read where some of the staffers were not supportive of Pelley's part in the clash with management -- that it didn't/won't accomplish anything and simply caused more chaos and ill will -- and the managers themselves called his outrage performative. I suppose it could have been described that way in comparison to a private meeting with Weiss and/or Bilton.

But I believe Pelley wanted, very much, just to take a stand for good, strong, separate and traditional journalism, come what may.

I see it largely as an outgrowth of all the media problems, destruction, anger and frustration currently going on, like everything else, because of Trump and his corrupt, stupid supporters, who, somehow, seem to have all the power right now.

Pelley was legitimately enraged, and finally reached a point where he felt he HAD to take a principled position, and damn the consequences.