Key facts
- Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker, and Jon Wertheim will remain at '60 Minutes'.
- The correspondents stated their decision is to prevent the show from 'dying'.
- Four correspondents have departed '60 Minutes' recently.
- New executive producer Nick Bilton replaced Tanya Simon.
- Remaining correspondents expressed disappointment over treatment of journalists and management style.
- They will stay if they can continue to produce independent journalism.
Three veteran '60 Minutes' correspondents—Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker, and Jon Wertheim—have decided to stay with the program, stating their goal is to prevent the show from 'dying.' Their decision comes after a period of significant turmoil, including the firings of colleagues and a dispute between former correspondent Scott Pelley and new executive producer Nick Bilton. The remaining correspondents expressed anger and grief over the treatment of journalists, describing it as 'shabby' and 'indecent,' and contrasting it with the show's historical commitment to independent, fearless journalism. They are working to build trust with Bilton, who replaced Tanya Simon, and have indicated they will leave if the program's journalistic integrity is compromised. This shake-up at '60 Minutes' occurs under new CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, who is remaking the organization. The departures follow a year of turbulence, including a lawsuit filed by Donald Trump against the show over an interview edit, and a subsequent settlement that some viewed as a 'bribe.'