Cecilia Vega Blasts CBS After Being Fired in ’60 Minutes’ Overhaul

“60 Minutes” correspondent Cecilia Vega mentioned Thursday that she was fired and issued a blistering assertion during which she accused CBS Information of “censorship, each imposed and self-driven.”

Vega, who joined the distinguished TV newsmagazine from ABC Information in 2023, mentioned her contract wasn’t up till March 2027. The community didn’t reply to a request for remark.

Vega bought the ax in a serious shakeup on the long-running present. CBS Information Editor in Chief Bari Weiss ousted the chief producer, Tanya Simon, and changed her with Nick Bilton, a former New York Occasions tech columnist and Vainness Honest contributor.

Sharyn Alfonsi, a veteran “60 Minutes” correspondent who clashed with Weiss over a section on Donald Trump’s immigration policies, additionally exited after her contract was not renewed.

Learn Vega’s full message right here:

I used to be fired at this time. My contract as a correspondent for 60 Minutes was not set to run out till March 2027.

I’ve the utmost respect and admiration for my colleagues at 60 Minutes and the tales that air each Sunday. However I very a lot worry what comes subsequent for and the way forward for the legendary broadcast.

In latest months, my producing groups and I’ve skilled efforts to insert political bias into our tales. Reporting groups have held again on submitting story pitches about necessary information matters out of worry of the inner repercussions.

Let’s name this what it’s: censorship, each imposed and self-driven. It’s harmful for the present and harmful for democracy.

I held the road and refused to include ideas that offend the conscience, a phrase I borrow from a colleague who has additionally fought to maintain questionable editorial ideas away from the info. I do know from many conversations with colleagues that many producing groups and correspondents engaged on the present at this time have needed to battle to keep up editorial independence with regularity. I’m removed from the one 60 Minutes correspondent who has requested herself, “What’s my private crimson line? How a lot can I push again earlier than I pay the value?”

I’m pleased with the work I did for 60 Minutes. This season alone I used to be a part of groups that gained two of the best honors in our career — a George Polk award and a duPont-Columbia award for our protection of Venezuelan migrants despatched by the Trump administration to El Salvador’s Cecot jail. And never for nothing, I climbed to Mount Everest.

I additionally stroll away with an honor nobody can take from me: I used to be the primary Latina correspondent to ever be on 60 Minutes.

Right now I misplaced a tremendous job. However I nonetheless have my integrity.

To my former colleagues, proceed to carry the road.