Sharyn Alfonsi has released a statement that her tenure at 60 Minutes is over after he contract wasn’t renewed. She didn’t hold back in her criticism of CBS News, either.
What We Know: Alfonsi shared that her contract with the network expired over the weekend and that she would not return. In her exit, Sharyn Alfonsi lambasted CBS News leadership for what she labeled as “abandoning” the mission of 60 Minutes. She also accused the network of “methodically” tearing down the wall between “corporate interest” and “editorial independence.”
What They Said: “Over the weekend, my contract with CBS News expired, drawing to a close nearly twenty years with the network, including more than a decade at 60 Minutes. Following an intense editorial dispute over our CECOT story, repeated attempts by my representation to establish a path forward were met with absolute silence from network executives. The message could not be clearer: my time at 60 Minutes is apparently over. In the coming days, network leadership may attempt to hide behind corporate euphemisms like ‘modernization’ and ‘restructuring’ to explain away my departure. Don’t be misled. This was not a routine corporate transition. It was a deliberate choice to penalize a journalist for refusing to sanitize factually accurate reporting, and it sends a chilling message to the entire newsroom.” -Sharyn Alfonsi
What Remains Unclear: What Sharyn Alfonsi will do next in her media career. She has previously insinuated that she expected not to return to the show next season. However, she has not hinted at what lies ahead for her.
What It Means: Alfonsi’s tenure with the show ends with a bang. Her comments about the state of CBS News — without naming Bari Weiss — will create many headlines. Her exit follows the departure of Anderson Cooper. He also, reportedly, had concerns about the direction of the network and the news magazine. Former 60 Minutes Executive Producer Bill Owens also famously departed the show after concerns about editorial independence.
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Garrett Searight is Barrett Media’s News Editor, which includes writing daily news stories, features, and opinion columns. He joined Barrett Media in 2022 after a decade leading several radio brands in several formats, as well as a 5-year stint working in local television. In addition to his work with Barrett Media, he is a radio and TV play-by-play broadcaster. Reach out to him at Garrett@BarrettMedia.com.
