• Facebook
• Twitter
• Threads
• Flipboard
• Comments
• Print
• Email
• Add Fox News on Google

CBS editor-in-chief said ‘60 Minutes’ story was ‘not ready’ as staffers allege political motive

‘Fox News @ Night’ panelists discuss the controversy surrounding ‘60 Minutes’ shelving a piece on Trump deportations to an El Salvador prison shortly before it was set to air.

Former CBS News journalists are reportedly planning to urge Paramount CEO David Ellison to ensure CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss respects "editorial independence," but an ex-staffer feels the polarizing news chief is simply doing what she was hired to do. 

Weiss, who was handpicked by Ellison and has irked some insiders by noting a lack of faith from the public in CBS and other mainstream media institutions, made headlines last week by delaying a "60 Minutes" segment on Trump deportations to an El Salvador prison, CECOT. 

Hours before "Inside CECOT" was set to air, "60 Minutes" released a statement saying the segment was being delayed because it needed "additional reporting." The decision to delay the segment irritated many, including "60 Minutes" correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi, who accused Weiss of holding it for political reasons.

BARI WEISS SUGGESTS CECOT '60 MINUTES' PIECE SHE DELAYED WASN'T 'FAIR' IN MEMO TO STAFFERS

New Paramount CEO David Ellison handpicked Bari Weiss to serve as editor-in-chief of CBS News. (Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images; James Leynse/Corbis via Getty Images; Noam Galai/Getty Images for The Free Press)

The New York Post reported on Monday that former CBS News journalists are preparing a petition to Ellison, urging him to make sure CBS News respects "editorial independence." The petition, which will reportedly be sent to Ellison on Jan. 3, states that Weiss’ decision to hold the story "signals a breakdown in editorial oversight, and risks setting a dangerous precedent in a country that has traditionally valued press freedom," according to the Post. 

A former CBS News journalist, who has not been asked to sign the letter, doesn’t believe it will move the needle. 

"I doubt it’ll have much impact on Ellison because I think he hired her to do exactly what she’s doing – even if not in the ham-fisted and self-destructive way she’s doing it," the former CBS News staffer told Fox News Digital. 

'60 MINUTES' REPORTER LASHES OUT AT BARI WEISS AFTER SEGMENT ON EL SALVADOR PRISON YANKED AT LAST MINUTE

CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss. (Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for Uber, X and The Free Press)

"I think they’d be better off asking her for a face-to-face meeting," they continued. "That’d be a ‘town hall’ that might have an impact." 

CBS News and Paramount did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

In August, Ellison officially became the owner and CEO of Paramount, now formally referred to as "Paramount, a Skydance company." He handpicked Weiss to oversee CBS News, acquiring her outlet The Free Press for $150 million in the process. 

Weiss decided to delay the "60 Minutes" segment after determining that, while the interviews were "powerful," the story ultimately did not "advance the ball" and "was not ready." Among her notes were urging more effort to get a Trump official on-camera to defend administration policies on immigration, as well as criticizing a "strange" portion of the segment showing Berkeley students analyzing the prison.

STEPHEN MILLER CALLS FOR FIRING OF CBS PRODUCERS OVER SHELVED TRUMP DEPORTATION STORY SEGMENT

• ·酷我音乐怎么关闭自动续费 自动续费关闭攻略
• ·多商讨有利于我们的成长
• ·迪桑特全球旗舰店"未来之城"于北京华贸正式揭幕
• ·火影忍者手游犬塚花的二技能是什么 火影忍者手游犬塚花技能介绍
• ·Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson endorses 'Abolish ICE' snowplow name
• ·迪桑特全球旗舰店"未来之城"于北京华贸正式揭幕
• ·万豪万枫酒店亮相重庆临空经济示范区 重庆渝北万豪万枫酒店盛大揭幕
• ·印尼大师赛国羽三金收官，中国男双柳暗花明，女双混双后继乏人
• ·Xe bánh mì chay 'Vuông Tròn' của 2 cô gái Bắc
• ·基本确定降级！狼队英超18轮仅拿2分 创百年耻辱纪录
• ·Epic连续喜加一【第10弹】：《我们曾在一起》
• ·植物大战僵尸杂交版益智模式怎么玩 植物大战僵尸杂交版益智模式晨昏线玩法攻略
• ·ราคาทองคำครั้งที่ 17 ขึ้น 100 บาท รูปพรรณขายออก 66,800 บาท
• ·广州动物园熊猫馆保安中英文讲解火出圈！被网友称为“熊猫主理人”
• ·陈盈骏鼻骨骨折返京治疗 曾凡博仍无法为北京队出战
• ·同比增长52.8% 上半年网络货运行业上传运单超8000万单