Former '60 Minutes' honcho says CBS News leaders wanted staff to 'compromise our principles'
Former CBS "60 Minutes" producer and managing editor Guy Campanile opened up about his firing earlier this year in a social media post on Tuesday, claiming he and his co-workers "refused to be accomplices in the destruction of the most prestigious news program on American television."
"We would not compromise our principles or reputations by jamming unverifiable notions or White House talking points into our reporting," Campanile wrote in a private Facebook post, according to reporters. "We objected when told to conduct interviews arranged by the administration. We insisted on asking the most challenging questions to business and political leaders without fear or favor."
He added, "We did what reporters worth their salt do – we questioned authority...including our own bosses. That’s how the best newsrooms work. To be clear — we were told to leave because we insisted on doing our jobs."
Several "60 Minutes" correspondents and producers were fired from the show ahead of the latest season. (Jai Lennard/CBS News via Getty Images)
Campanile was one of several people fired from the network in May along with executive producer Tanya Simon, executive editor Draggan Mihailovich, senior producer Matthew Polevoy, and correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega. The firings were part of the network's editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss' continued efforts to reorganize the long-running news program.
Though Campanile did not name anyone behind his firing, he called out "on-line opinionists" taking control of "institutions" like CBS News.
"Making matters worse is the cadre of self-described influencers and on-line opinionists who market themselves as 'journalists.' Some have been given control of our most precious reporting institutions — including CBS News. Many of these newsroom managers have never been exposed to the depths of poverty, the ravages of war or the heartbreak of disaster. Yet these dilettantes and their enablers make critical programming decisions based on what might trend on-line over the next few hours," he wrote.
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Former "60 Minutes" managing editor Guy Campanile wrote in a private Facebook post that he and others were fired for refusing to compromise their journalistic integrity. (Screenshot/CBS News)
Ahead of the latest season premiere of "60 Minutes" on Sunday, Campanile wrote that he refuses to stay silent while media trust is "wrecked."
"As for my friends that remain at my former employer: Hold the line. Don’t give an inch because they will keep scraping away until there’s nothing left worth a da--," he closed.
A CBS News spokesperson declined to comment to Fox News Digital but pointed to past statements insisting accusations from former employees were not true.
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"60 Minutes" has produced several stories critical of the Trump administration, such as interviewing farmers who criticized Trump's tariffs and speaking with progressive American cardinals who opposed his immigration policies.
"60 Minutes" has produced several stories criticizing the Trump administration under Bari Weiss. (Al Drago/Getty Images)
When asked for comment, Campanile told Fox News Digital his private Facebook post was intended to just be for friends and family and not for public consumption.
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Longtime "60 Minutes" correspondent Scott Pelley was also fired shortly after Campanile following a bitter clash with Weiss and executive producer Nick Bilton over the direction of the series.
Lindsay Kornick is an associate editor for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to lindsay.kornick@fox.com and on Twitter: @lmkornick.
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