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’60 Minutes’ Announces New, Big-Name Correspondents & Contributors
CBS News magazine 60 Minutes has announced a wave of new correspondents and contributors as it reshapes its team under editor Bari Weiss, following the recent departures of Scott Pelley, Anderson Cooper, Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega. The changes reflect a deliberate shift away from relying solely on the traditional broadcast audience, with executive producer Nick Bilton framing the new hires as "entrepreneurial journalists who understand how to reach modern audiences" rather than figures with conventional television news résumés.
New York Times opinion columnist Ross Douthat joins as a correspondent, a notable move given the programme's historically strict separation from opinion journalism, while author Sebastian Junger and former Vice News correspondent Gianna Toboni come aboard as contributors. Norah O'Donnell, formerly of CBS Evening News, is being promoted to correspondent, and Trevor Phillips, recently named Senior Global Affairs Correspondent, becomes a contributor. Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker and Jon Wertheim remain on the programme, with the new line-up set to debut on 13 September 2026.
In short
- 60 Minutes adds Ross Douthat, Sebastian Junger and Gianna Toboni to its ranks
- Norah O'Donnell promoted to correspondent; Trevor Phillips named contributor
- Changes follow exits of Pelley, Cooper, Alfonsi and Vega; debut set 13 September
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
60 Minutes needs to evolve to survive in a fragmenting media landscape where traditional broadcast audiences are declining. The new hires—including respected figures like Ross Douthat and Sebastian Junger—represent accomplished journalists who understand how to engage modern audiences across multiple platforms. Bringing in talent with digital expertise and proven ability to draw readers is a pragmatic investment in the programme's future relevance, not an abandonment of journalistic standards.
The case against
The recruitment of a New York Times opinion columnist as a correspondent marks a concerning blurring of the line between news and commentary that has historically distinguished 60 Minutes from other outlets. The simultaneous departures of seasoned investigative journalists, combined with editorial language prioritising 'entrepreneurial' appeal over traditional reporting credentials, raises legitimate questions about whether the programme's primary asset—credibility rooted in rigorous, non-partisan journalism—will be preserved under this new direction.
Explained simply
60 Minutes is a long-running CBS News magazine programme known for investigative reporting and in-depth interviews. For decades, it has been one of the most-watched and influential news programmes in the United States.
The programme is undergoing significant changes following the departure of several prominent correspondents, including Scott Pelley and Anderson Cooper. The reshaping is being led by new editor Bari Weiss, who is deliberately steering the programme in a new direction.
These changes reflect an effort to reach audiences beyond traditional television viewers, particularly those who consume news online. A notable example is the hiring of Ross Douthat, an opinion columnist from the New York Times, which marks an unusual move for 60 Minutes given its historical separation from opinion journalism.