The three remaining “60 Minutes” correspondents instructed colleagues Friday that they’ll stick with the embattled newsmagazine for one stark purpose: “We don’t want to see ‘60 Minutes’ die.”
Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker and Jon Wertheim wrote in a joint memo that they had been “heartbroken” over the latest firings of their colleagues however had determined to return.
“We feared that our returning might be construed as an endorsement of the existing power structure. That is simply, categorically not the case,” the trio wrote.
The veteran correspondents additionally stated that newly appointed govt producer Nick Bilton’s Thursday memo to workers “said all the right things.”
Bilton’s memo supported the three correspondents and sought to reassure them that he shares their values and imaginative and prescient. He additionally wrote that “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.”
Matching reassuring phrases with actions, Bilton additionally stated Maria Gavrilovic, who labored intently with Scott Pelley for years, has been named senior producer.
“If we can continue doing the work that made this show what it is — committing acts of independent, fearless journalism and storytelling — we’re here for it. If not, we leave,” the trio wrote on Friday.
“For now we’re staying — for our audience, the millions who watch us with a loyal but critical eye. We’re staying for our teams, and all the teams. We work for you guys. The thought of abandoning you became unbearable. And of course we’re staying because this is home.”
This is a creating story and will probably be up to date.