Steve Kroft Says ’60 Minutes’ Is ‘Disastrous’ Under Bari Weiss After Scott Pelley and More Fired: ‘This Is Journalistic Interference’
PBS NewsHour reporter Geoff Bennett teased an excerpt from his interview with Steve Croft, in which the “60 Minutes” legend said the direction of the historic news program under the leadership of CBS…
PBS NewsHour reporter Geoff Bennett teased an excerpt from his interview with Steve Croft, in which the “60 Minutes” legend said the direction of the
Read Full Story at Variety →Why This Matters
The shakeup at *60 Minutes*—once an unassailable bastion of broadcast journalism—signals a tectonic shift in how legacy media navigates the minefield of modern news consumption. Kroft’s critique underscores a growing tension between journalistic integrity and the commercial imperatives driving today’s newsrooms, where ideological alignment or audience engagement often trumps traditional editorial rigor.
Background Context
Founded in 1968, *60 Minutes* built its reputation on hard-hitting, long-form investigative reporting, becoming a cultural institution that set the standard for broadcast journalism. The program’s decline in recent years—marked by ratings dips and a revolving door of anchors—mirrors broader industry struggles to adapt to digital disruption while maintaining credibility in an era of partisan polarization and social media fragmentation.
What Happens Next
The firing of high-profile correspondents and Kroft’s blunt assessment suggest a protracted internal battle over the show’s future direction, with potential repercussions for CBS News’ broader brand. Industry watchers will scrutinize whether this marks a temporary disruption or the beginning of a irreversible decline in the program’s once-dominant influence.
Bigger Picture
Kroft’s remarks reflect a broader industry reckoning, where legacy news organizations face pressure to either double down on partisan narratives for survival or risk irrelevance by clinging to outdated standards. The tension between Weiss’ leadership and traditionalists at *60 Minutes* mirrors similar conflicts at other outlets, raising questions about whether journalistic objectivity can survive in the post-truth era.
