CBS News editor in chief Bari Weiss is poised for a main shakeup at “60 Minutes” — with layoffs slated for this summer time that could engulf some of the show’s prime expertise and producers, The Post has discovered.
The massacre is slated for June, a source with information said. That’s after CBS News last month slashed 6% of its workforce — between 60 and 70 people — including the shock shuttering of its 99-year-old radio division.
Insiders said the March layoffs were preceded by buyout affords at “CBS Evening News” that started hitting inboxes in late January, sparking chatter in the halls inside CBS News that the ritual will restart in the coming weeks — including at “60 Minutes.”
CBS News editor in chief Bari Weiss is expected to shake up “60 Minutes” and kick off another 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 said.
Sources said Weiss desires to focus the storied TV information magazine more on scoops and hard-hitting investigative reporting — while 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” government producer Tanya Simon is said to be in lock-step with Weiss over the need to make the legendary show more hard-hitting. CBS via Getty Images
Elsewhere, “60 Minutes” has these days achieved segments on chess boxing, dog-aging analysis and why handmade Swiss watchers are so costly.
“Bari Weiss is not wrong to overhaul the show,” said a longtime CBS exec, who agreed that new people should be introduced into the fold and that the show wants to lean into “harder reporting.”
This week, Variety reported that Weiss could exchange “60 Minutes” government producer Tanya Simon, whose year-long contract is said to be up soon. 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 would 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 overhaul the program’s manufacturing ranks.
“60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Pelley has been mentioned as a potential casualty, but sources said it would behoove the community to retain the journalist and slash his wage when his contract comes due. CBS via Getty Images
Scott Pelley, a common critic of the Trump administration and his own company overlords, has also been mentioned by higher-ups as a potential casualty, insiders said. A source with information instructed The Post that Pelley’s contract is up next yr and the company could buy him out before that.
“Scott is the face of ‘60 Minutes’ and he’s not ready to retire,” a second source said, noting that it might 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 current weeks, it seems that Weiss has been “warming” to Pelley, according to a current report from the Status e-newsletter.
As beforehand reported by The Post, David Ellison, CEO of CBS father or mother Paramount Skydance, is said to “not be happy” with Pelley’s public criticism of his company bosses. At a graduation speech last summer time, the journo raged against President Trump and proclaimed that journalism is “under attack.”
“60 Minutes” is expected to get a shake up under Weiss, who is trying to put her stamp on the show.
At a current awards ceremony, Pelley sounded off about the state of “60 Minutes,” asserting that Paramount hasn’t had any affect on its reporting. Pelley also called out Weiss for after she shelved a phase on El Salvador’s CECOT prison, saying she needed to take her job “more seriously” during an inner assembly late last yr.
But without Anderson Cooper – who did not renew his “60 Minutes” contract – “60 Minutes” has few boldface names, even if the community faucets Norah O’Donnell for a greater position on the program and it provides a few segments from new rent Matt Gutman next season.
One level of consensus is that Weiss will need loyalists around her when she makes huge modifications to the storied information show, so that she can simply “break down silos” at the community.
Sharyn Alfonsi, the correspondent who did the CECOT phase, has been rumored to be in the sizzling seat. Her contract is up next month. Weiss has also bumped heads with Vega, sources famous.
In order to make manner for the next era, Weiss could also retire veteran correspondents Lesley Stahl, 84 and Bill Whitaker, 74, sources said.
