Development News for Cambridge, Maryland

Internal Strife at CBS News Leads to Firings and Questions about Editorial Independence

Craig Fuller discussed the firing of Scott P, a 40-year veteran and anchor at 60 Minutes, by CBS News, suggesting open warfare within the organization is detrimental. He noted that the parent company's stock is down, which is concerning. Fuller described the difficulty of leading a national news organization, requiring the ability to unite individuals with strong views around a common goal, a feat apparently not happening at CBS News or 60 Minutes. While some argue it was time for a change, given the age of some long-serving journalists, Fuller emphasized that experienced journalists are trusted by Americans, implying a price will be paid for their departure. He suggested the leadership at CBS may be seeking confrontation to implement changes, even if in a ham-handed way, and that viewer numbers are down. Al opined that Trump has targeted CBS since the beginning of his administration, noting CBS was bought by a Trump ally. He mentioned Trump's past lawsuit against 60 Minutes and the controversy surrounding editor Barry Weiss, who he believes is making CBS an arm of the Trump propaganda machine. Weiss allegedly blocked a 60 Minutes story on concentration camps Trump wants to use for deportations. This led to the pulling of a story and the firing of reporter Sharon Alonsy. Al agreed that CBS needs new blood but expressed concern about corporate ownership influencing news operations for other business deals. He believes Trump uses government decision-making to influence coverage. Al stated that 60 Minutes is in disarray, having fired producers and talent, and that the hard-nosed journalism essential to democracy is in trouble.