New CBS 60 minutes Government producer Nick Bilton praised the present’s three remaining correspondents, Lesley Stahl, Invoice Whitaker and Jon Wertheim, and promised that the venerable information journal could be freed from company stress, in a memo to the present’s employees Thursday afternoon.
Bilton mentioned he consulted with all three correspondents earlier than sending the word.
“We talked about what makes 60 minutes distinctive, concerning the traditions and heritage of the previous, about the way you perform the work that produces such vital items,” he wrote. 60 minutes is its journalistic independence. We’ll at all times pursue tales with out worry or favor.
“We’ll at all times make historical past the North Star – not relationships, not politics, not anything,” he added. “We will likely be guided solely and at all times by what constitutes the most effective story for our viewers. This could go with out saying, however I’ll say it anyway: We’ll by no means be briefed by the corporate homeowners on these tales.”
Learn Bilton’s memo under.
Group,
These previous few days have been making an attempt and tough. I do know that. I’ve spent a variety of time speaking with lots of you, and significantly consulting with Lesley, Invoice and Jon.
We talked about what makes 60 Minutes nice, the traditions and legacies of the previous, the way you do the work that produces such vital items. We additionally talked about change: new audiences, new platforms, and new methods of telling tales that these new audiences want. We’ll speak extra about this within the coming weeks.
There are a couple of factors I need to make now.
60 Minutes is a rare present. It’s liked by the general public and is a part of the American cloth. It is due to your ambition for probably the most daring and revealing tales. Your dedication to accuracy and care. Your requirements of excellence in presentation, reporting and manufacturing.
The muse of 60 Minutes is its journalistic independence. We’ll at all times pursue tales with out worry or favor.
We’ll at all times make historical past the North Star, not relationships, not politics, not anything. We will likely be guided solely and at all times by what constitutes the most effective piece for our viewers. This could go with out saying, however I am going to say it anyway: We’ll by no means be briefed by the corporate homeowners on these tales.
Sunday night, it really works. It is the most effective hour of tv journalism on this planet. We’ll proceed doing what we do this makes it so nice: the scheduled screenings, the detailed script work, the modifying, the lengthy format of the performs. I am a curious individual and I really like tales, and as government producer I’ll form the sequence as an entire. I am going to talk about concepts with you, dive into scripts and edits with you, and approve elements. Intrepid correspondents and intrepid producers will proceed to be on the coronary heart of each piece we broadcast.
Dialogue, debate and disagreement are important to creating good journalism. Every little thing will likely be completed in good religion, and at all times with respect and belief, and with constancy to the practices which have served us effectively for 58 years.
For now, I need to flip to the arduous work of Season 59. I need to study from you, and the individuals who know this present intimately will likely be proper there with me. Certainly, I’m delighted to announce that Maria Gavrilovic has simply been named lead producer. She will likely be a type of folks.
Lesley, Invoice and Jon are on the coronary heart of this sequence’ success. They sat throughout from probably the most highly effective folks on this planet and refused to blink. The general public trusts them as a result of they’ve confirmed it, story after story, for many years.
Working with them is a privilege and each journalist’s dream.
Over the previous few days, I’ve thanked every of you on your work, and I repeat right here: thanks. It has been a hell of a primary week. Let’s get to work.
Till then,
Notch