By Sohaib Shams
Former 60 Minutes correspondent Cecilia Vega said it "hurts to watch" the changes at CBS News following her firing in May as part of a dramatic overhaul led by editor-in-chief Bari Weiss.
Firing and Contract Details
Vega, the show's first Latina correspondent, was hired in early 2023 with a contract running until March 2027. She said she was fired without cause and still does not know why she was targeted, along with several other correspondents and producers.
Allegations of Political Bias
During a talk at American University in Washington, Vega repeated allegations that newsroom managers pressured her to insert "factually untrue" information into her stories, which she resisted. CBS News has denied her claims of political bias.
Ratings Decline and Corporate Changes
The overhaul also saw the departure of correspondent Scott Pelley "for cause" after clashes with new executive producer Nick Bilton, and the non-renewal of Sharyn Alfonsi's contract. Executive producer Tanya Simon was also fired. Despite industry-leading ratings in its 58th season (averaging 9.1 million viewers, up 9%), the show's recent episode drew just 5.64 million viewers, the smallest audience this century for a sixth episode. Weiss said she is not focused on ratings but on building the network.
Industry Concerns
CBS is now owned by David Ellison's Skydance. Vega expressed uncertainty about the network's direction and concerns about editorial independence and job security, especially with a potential merger with CNN under the same ownership. Scott Pelley also spoke publicly about political pressure to make coverage more palatable to the Trump administration. Vega, 49, said she has no idea if she will join another legacy outlet or pursue independent work.
