CBS News has announced major changes to its flagship Sunday newsmagazine 60 Minutes, appointing former New York Times tech journalist Nick Bilton as executive producer for the 59th season. The shake-up, which includes the departure of several key figures, has sparked concerns about editorial integrity and political bias at the network.
Tanya Simon, daughter of legendary correspondent Bob Simon, has been ousted as executive producer, a role she assumed in spring 2025 after Bill Owens resigned. The network has also parted ways with correspondent Cecilia Vega, who joined in 2023, and executive editor Draggan Mihailovich, a decades-long veteran of the show. Veteran correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi confirmed her termination on Thursday, claiming she was penalised for challenging criticisms of her December 2025 segment on a Salvadoran prison.
In a statement, Vega said she was fired despite having nearly a year left on her contract and alleged political bias at the network. “I very much fear what comes next for the future of the legendary broadcast,” she said, adding that reporting teams had withheld story pitches due to fear of repercussions. “Let’s call this what it is: censorship, both imposed and self-driven.”
Bilton’s appointment is seen as the most significant move. CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss praised him as “one of the most entrepreneurial and ambitious journalists working today”. In a memo to staff, Bilton called the role the “honor of my career” but acknowledged the need to evolve. “The world we are reporting on, and the world we are reporting to, where people consume their news, has moved,” he wrote.
The changes come amid rising questions about 60 Minutes’ editorial direction. The show has been the most-watched news programme on television for 52 consecutive seasons, averaging 9.1 million viewers. However, staff loyal to Simon are expected to resist the new leadership, which includes Weiss, who took over as editor-in-chief in October 2025 with a background in opinion commentary but no television news experience.
