60 Minutes correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi was the reporter at the center of the CECOT controversy late last year. She is now sharing her side of the story.
Alfonsi received the Ridenhour Prize for Courage from the National Press Club on Thursday evening. During her speech, she spoke about the situation where CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss reportedly cancelled the story’s debut.
“Some executives are asking not, ‘Is the story true?’ but, ‘Is it good for business?’” she said, while not naming any names.
She also said that she wouldn’t linger on the situation, but that it was important to discuss the topic.
“It wasn’t an isolated editorial argument,” said Alfonsi. “In my view, it was the result of a more aggressive contagion: the spread of corporate meddling and editorial fear. It’s hard to watch.”
Alfonis alluded to her future in the speech. She reportedly is not signed for the 59th season of the program coming up later this year.
“My hope recently has been that I still have a job. And every morning I wake up to another headline that says I’ve been fired,” she admitted. “If I am fired, it will not be the first time.”
Sharyn Alfonsi was joined in receiving the award by former 60 Minutes Executive Producer Bill Owens. He left the position in April 2025, citing differences with Paramount executives over editorial control of the show. Alfonsi heaped praise on her former colleague and further alluded to her potential exit from 60 Minutes.
“I always said I’d follow Bill over a cliff,” she said. “And apparently I did.”
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