The recent shakeup at the iconic news program "60 Minutes" has sparked a heated debate, with former correspondent Steve Kroft weighing in on the dramatic changes. In an interview with PBS News, Kroft described the situation as "disastrous" for the show and its audience, citing a series of events that have led to this point.
One of the key incidents was an interview with Kamala Harris, which resulted in a $17 million lawsuit from the Trump administration. Despite the lawsuit's lack of merit, CBS and Paramount settled, setting off a chain of events that has seen the departure of key figures like EP Tanya Simon, correspondents Cecilia Vega and Sharyn Alfonsi, and the firing of Scott Pelley.
Kroft believes that Paramount's focus on securing approval for its mega-merger with Warner Bros. Discovery has overshadowed the well-being of the news program. He suggests that the company's decision-making has been influenced by the Trump-backed FCC, with a desire to appease political interests taking precedence over journalistic integrity.
"They don't like the way CBS has been operated. They don't like the fact that [60 Minutes] is on the air, they'd like to see it taken off the air, they've said that a number of times, they'd like to see people fired, and that's what's happening," Kroft said, echoing Pelley's sentiments.
The line between business decisions and journalistic interference is a fine one, but Kroft is clear in his belief that this situation falls squarely in the latter category. He argues that the overhaul makes no business sense, given the program's continued success and high ratings.
"60 Minutes" has been the highest-rated news program on television for over 50 years, with its audience growing by 9% last year. Kroft questions why such a successful formula would be tampered with, especially when it comes at the cost of journalistic integrity.
This shakeup is not just about business decisions; it's a battle for the soul of a news institution. With Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss at the helm, the future of "60 Minutes" hangs in the balance, and the implications for the broader news division are profound.
As Kroft reflects on his own time at the show, he admits to hating the job's relentless demands. The 24-hour nature of the work, the constant travel, and the intense writing process took a toll. Yet, despite the challenges, "60 Minutes" has maintained its position as a cornerstone of investigative journalism.
The question now is whether it can survive this latest chapter and continue to deliver the high-quality journalism it's known for, or if it will be a casualty of political and business interests.
