CBS News has announced a major shake-up of its flagship Sunday newsmagazine 60 Minutes, replacing executive producer Tanya Simon with former New York Times tech journalist Nick Bilton. The changes come amid growing concerns over the show's editorial integrity and political bias.
Simon, daughter of legendary correspondent Bob Simon, was ousted after taking over in spring 2025 following Bill Owens' resignation. The network has also parted ways with correspondent Cecilia Vega, executive editor Draggan Mihailovich, and veteran correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi.
In a statement, Vega said she was fired despite having nearly a year left on her contract and expressed fear for the show's future. She alleged efforts to insert political bias into stories and described a culture of censorship, both imposed and self-driven. Alfonsi similarly claimed she was penalised for pushing back on criticism of her December 2025 segment about a Salvadoran prison.
Bilton's appointment is seen as the most significant move. He has a background in tech journalism and documentary filmmaking but no experience in broadcast television. Bari Weiss, CBS News editor-in-chief, who also has a background in opinion commentary rather than TV news, praised Bilton as 'one of the most entrepreneurial and ambitious journalists working today'.
In a memo to staff, Bilton acknowledged the show's history but stressed the need to adapt to changing news consumption habits. 'The world we are reporting on, and the world we are reporting to, where people consume their news, has moved,' he wrote. 'If we don't move with it, we won't be here for the next sixty years.'
The overhaul represents one of the most significant in the program's history, which has been the most-watched news show on television for 52 consecutive seasons, averaging 9.1 million viewers.
