Guy Campanile, the former managing editor of 60 Minutes, has publicly claimed that he and several senior colleagues were forced out of CBS's flagship news programme after resisting corporate and political interference in its journalism. Writing on Facebook, Campanile said he and correspondents including Scott Pelley, Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega refused to be "accomplices in the destruction" of the show, alleging they were pressured to include unverified claims and White House talking points and to conduct interviews arranged by the Trump administration. The allegations come as a revamped 60 Minutes prepares to launch its new season, adding fresh scrutiny to claims that editorial independence at the programme has been compromised.

Campanile, a 34-year CBS veteran, did not cite specific examples but said those let go in May's shake-up were dismissed "because we insisted on doing our jobs." CBS declined to comment, though editor-in-chief Bari Weiss has previously dismissed similar accusations, telling the Wall Street Journal that what critics call "editorial interference" is simply "the job description of an editor in chief." The network unveiled a season-premiere trailer this week featuring Norah O'Donnell, while new executive producer Nick Bilton said the revamped show would include a new closing segment and insisted Donald Trump remains "one thousand percent" fair game for scrutiny.