New CBS 60 Minutes executive producer Nick Bilton praised the show’s three remaining correspondents, Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker and Jon Wertheim, and pledged that the venerable newsmagazine would be free from corporate pressure, in a memo to the show’s staff Thursday afternoon.
Bilton said he had consulted with the three correspondents before sending the note.
“We talked about what makes 60 Minutes exceptional, about the traditions and legacy of the past, about how you do the work that produces such momentous pieces,” he wrote. “The foundation of 60 Minutes is its journalistic independence. We will always pursue stories without fear or favor.”
“We will always make the story the North Star — not relationships nor politics nor anything else,” he added. “We will be guided solely and always by what makes the best piece for our viewers. And it should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: We will never be instructed by the ownership of the company on those stories.”
Read Bilton’s memo below.
Team,
It has been a trying and difficult few days. I know that. I’ve spent a lot of time in conversation with many of you, and especially in consultation with Lesley, Bill and Jon.
We talked about what makes 60 Minutes exceptional, about the traditions and legacy of the past, about how you do the work that produces such momentous pieces. We also talked about change: About new audiences, new platforms, and new ways of storytelling that these new audiences need. We’ll speak more about that in the weeks to come.
There are a few things I want to emphasize now.
60 Minutes is an extraordinary show. It’s beloved by audiences and is part of the American fabric. That’s because of your ambition for the most daring and revelatory stories. Your commitment to accuracy and care. Your standards of excellence in presentation, reporting and production.
The foundation of 60 Minutes is its journalistic independence. We will always pursue stories without fear or favor.
We will always make the story the North Star—not relationships nor politics nor anything else. We will be guided solely and always by what makes the best piece for our viewers. And it should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: We will never be instructed by the ownership of the company on those stories.
Sunday night works. It’s the best hour of television journalism anywhere. We’re going to continue to do the things we do that make it so great-the scheduled screenings, the detailed script work, the editing, the long format of the pieces. I am a curious person and I love stories, and as executive producer I will shape the show writ large. I’ll bat around ideas with you, I’ll dive into scripts and edits with you, and I will sign off on pieces. The fearless correspondents and the intrepid producers will continue to be the core of each piece we broadcast.
Discussion, debate and disagreement are essential to the making of good journalism. All will be done in good faith, and always with respect and trust-and with fidelity to the practices that have served us well for 58 years.
Right now, I want to turn to the hard work of Season 59. I want to learn from you, and people who know this show intimately will be by my side. Indeed, I’m thrilled to announce that Maria Gavrilovic has just been named Senior Producer. She will be one of those people.
Lesley, Bill and Jon are core to this show’s success. They have sat across from the most powerful people in the world and refused to blink. Audiences trust them because they have proved it, story by story, for decades.
Working with them is a privilege and every journalist’s dream.
Over the past few days, I have thanked each of you for your work, and I will say it again here: thank you. It’s been a hell of a first week. Let’s get to work.
Until then,
Nick
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