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CBS News editor assigns Farage interview to new correspondent
A veteran 60 Minutes correspondent was removed from a planned interview with British politician Nigel Farage. The assignment went instead to a newly hired correspondent.
Jul 8, 1:15 PM·2m read1 source
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A veteran 60 Minutes correspondent was removed from a planned interview with British politician Nigel Farage, according to Breaker Media. The assignment was given instead to a newly hired senior global affairs correspondent. The Farage story was originally approved by a former executive producer and assigned to the veteran correspondent and a producer.
That assignment occurred before the former executive producer was dismissed and a new executive producer took over.
Background on the assignment Farage resigned his seat in Parliament and triggered a by-election in his constituency while under scrutiny over alleged failures to disclose millions of pounds in financial support and gifts. Breaker Media reported that many veteran 60 Minutes producers have been unwilling to work on the story because of criticism that the new correspondent has faced over his views on Islam.
A source with knowledge of the situation disputed Breaker Media's account, telling the outlet that no story assignments for the upcoming season have been finalized and that development of the show's 59th season remains fluid. The source said it was inaccurate to suggest producers are refusing to work on a story that has not yet been formally assigned.
The source also said the new correspondent does not officially join CBS News until later this month. The source pushed back on the suggestion that the editor-in-chief's involvement in major story decisions amounted to improper editorial interference, arguing that overseeing significant editorial calls is a core responsibility of a newsroom editor-in-chief.
Recent changes at 60 Minutes Recent months have seen one of the most turbulent periods in the nearly six-decade history of 60 Minutes. CBS News has maintained that the editorial process reflected standard journalistic practice. The turmoil escalated after a longtime executive producer resigned, saying growing corporate involvement had deprived him of the editorial independence he believed was essential to leading 60 Minutes.
