Fired 60 Minutes correspondent wins major award after accusing Bari Weiss of 'murdering' show
Fired 60 Minutes correspondent wins major award after accusing Bari Weiss of 'murdering' show
Ayeesha WalshFri, August 14, 2026 at 10:49 PM UTC
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Scott Pelley won yet another award for his journalism -Credit:CBS via Getty Images
Fired 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley has picked up another major journalism award for his work on the CBS newsmagazine, just two months after his departure from the program amid a dramatic staffing shake-up.
The Bus on Route 62, Pelley’s November 2025 CBS report about a deadly Russian strike on a civilian bus in Ukraine, won the Excellence in Writing honor at the 2026 Edward R. Murrow Awards. The prestigious award ceremony took place on Thursday, August 13, with 60 Minutes taking home two honors overall.
The program was also recognized in the feature reporting category for The Empty Rooms. The Edward R. Murrow Awards Gala will now take place on October 12 at Gotham Hall in New York City. Pelley’s latest accolade comes shortly after his exit from 60 Minutes, where he worked for more than two decades.
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His departure followed a tense staff meeting in June, during which tech journalist and newly appointed executive producer Nick Bilton reportedly accused Pelley of “ambush” and “misconduct.”
Pelley, in turn, reportedly took aim at CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, accusing her of “murdering” 60 Minutes and telling Bilton that Weiss had “no qualifications for her job,” according to multiple reports.
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The veteran correspondent reportedly accused the show's leadership of being “no longer recognizable” and alleged that executives were prioritizing political bias and seeking favor with President Donald Trump.
Pelley exited CBS earlier this year -Credit:AP Photo/Charles Sykes
Bilton responded by accusing Pelley of “performative displays of hostility” during the heated exchange. The drama has unfolded as 60 Minutes prepares for its 59th season, with the show confirming four new additions to its roster.
Veterans Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker and Jon Wertheim are also returning when the new season premieres on September 13. Pelley is now embarking on a new chapter in his journalism career alongside another former 60 Minutes correspondent.
Pelley and Sharyn Alfonsi, who was fired from the program in May, have been appointed Journalists in Residence at Columbia Journalism School for the 2026–27 academic year. The educational facility announced their appointments on August 3.
Bari Weiss caused controversy at CBS -Credit:AP
Pelley said in a statement, “This is a critical time for a free press. Columbia is leading the way in training the next generation of great journalists and I am honored to join Sharyn in that vital cause.”
Pelley first began his career with CBS News in 1989 before joining 60 Minutes as a correspondent in 2004. The latest honor adds to an already impressive list of accolades for the veteran journalist, who has previously won six Edward R. Murrow Awards for his reporting.
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