Jesse Watters, on his show ‘Jesse Watters Primetime,’ recently criticized former ’60 Minutes’ correspondent Scott Pelley for his emotional recounting of his dismissal from CBS. Watters described Pelley as lacking self-awareness regarding media bias. Pelley had dramatically compared his firing to the murder of a spouse, which Watters mocked, calling him a ‘drama queen.’
Meanwhile, ’60 Minutes’ is experiencing significant internal changes. Newly appointed executive producer Nick Bilton aims to quell rumors circulating about the program’s newsroom activities. In a memo obtained by Fox News Digital, Bilton insisted that most of the rumors are false. He urged staff to direct questions to him personally to maintain focus on preparing quality television content.
“Since I started here there has been roughly a rumor a day. About me, about you, about what’s coming next – 95% of them are fabrications and blatantly incorrect,” Bilton wrote.
Bilton’s memo emphasized upcoming organizational changes for ’60 Minutes,’ including the introduction of a digital storyboard to replace the outdated dry erase board system. He also emphasized the importance of in-office collaboration despite the frequent travel and reporting demands on staff.
CBS News has remained silent regarding ongoing inquiries about these internal issues. Bilton was appointed by CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss in a significant restructuring that resulted in the dismissal of several key figures, including Pelley’s predecessor Tanya Simon and correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega.
Further changes to the ’60 Minutes’ team include the addition of New York Times columnist Ross Douthat and CBS News veteran Norah O’Donnell as correspondents. Other new contributors are journalist and filmmaker Sebastian Junger, former Vice News correspondent Gianna Toboni, and former Sky News presenter Trevor Phillips, who will serve as a senior global affairs correspondent.