Key facts
- CBS's '60 Minutes' has added Ross Douthat, Norah O’Donnell, Sebastian Junger, Trevor Phillips, and Gianna Toboni as correspondents and contributors.
- The new hires are for the program's upcoming 59th season.
- The changes come two months after a significant shakeup that included dismissals of several correspondents.
- Nick Bilton, who has limited broadcast news experience, was installed as the new executive producer.
- Bari Weiss, the new editor-in-chief of CBS News, oversaw the changes.
CBS's '60 Minutes' is set to debut its 59th season with a new lineup of correspondents and contributors, including prominent figures like conservative columnist Ross Douthat and former 'CBS Evening News' anchor Norah O’Donnell. The announcement, made by new executive producer Nick Bilton, follows a significant restructuring of the long-running news program.
In addition to Douthat and O’Donnell, author Sebastian Junger, Trevor Phillips, and Gianna Toboni are joining the show as contributors. These new additions will work alongside existing correspondents Lesley Stahl, Jon Wertheim, and Bill Whitaker.
The recent changes come two months after a notable shakeup at '60 Minutes,' initiated by CBS News's new editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss. This restructuring led to the departure of several long-serving correspondents, including Tanya Simon, Sharyn Alfonsi, Cecilia Vega, and Scott Pelley. Anderson Cooper also announced his departure from the program earlier this year.
Nick Bilton, who was appointed executive producer, has been praised by CBS News leadership, including President Tom Cibrowski, for his vision. Bilton specifically lauded Douthat as a "preeminent public intellectual" and O’Donnell as a "powerhouse." He also highlighted Junger's acclaimed work, Toboni's investigative journalism, and Phillips's reputation as a respected voice in the UK.
The upheaval at '60 Minutes' has been ongoing for over a year, partly stemming from a lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump concerning an interview edit. This period of change at the program is part of a broader transformation at CBS News following Bari Weiss's appointment.