Scott Pelley and Sharyn Alfonsi, both recently removed from "60 Minutes" amid personnel changes at CBS News, have been named Journalists in Residence at Columbia Journalism School. They will mentor students, give lectures, and contribute to the Columbia Journalism Review. Dean Jelani Cobb contacted Pelley shortly after his early-June departure; both reporters will also take part in a Nov. 11 panel on career highlights and ethical challenges. The appointments were arranged quickly and aim to bring their investigative experience directly to students.
Scott Pelley and Sharyn Alfonsi Join Columbia Journalism School as Journalists in Residence
FILE - Scott Pelley, anchor of "CBS Evening News," poses in New York, May 15, 2013. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)
Scott Pelley and Sharyn Alfonsi — two veteran correspondents recently removed from "60 Minutes" amid a major personnel shake-up at CBS News — have been named Journalists in Residence at Columbia Journalism School for the upcoming academic year.
Roles And Responsibilities
Columbia Journalism School announced Monday that the pair will serve part time, advising and mentoring students, delivering guest lectures, and contributing to the Columbia Journalism Review. The appointments give students direct access to journalists whose reporting has shaped national and international conversations for decades, from war and politics to public health and criminal justice.
Context And Background
Dean Jelani Cobb said he reached out to Pelley the day after the correspondent's early-June departure from "60 Minutes," which followed Pelley’s public confrontation with CBS News leadership over editorial changes introduced by editor-in-chief Bari Weiss. Those changes included replacing the program’s executive producer, Tanya Simon, with Nick Bilton.
"One of the responsibilities of my job is to have an eye out for talent that's available," Cobb said. "The caliber of their investigative work was just unparalleled. '60 Minutes' is the preeminent investigative broadcast news show for a reason."
Alfonsi spent more than a decade reporting for "60 Minutes" before her contract was not renewed this year. Pelley spent more than 37 years at CBS, including 27 at "60 Minutes," and also anchored the "CBS Evening News." Both issued statements underscoring the importance of rigorous journalism: Alfonsi called the Columbia post "an extraordinary privilege," while Pelley said the appointment comes at "a critical time for a free press."
Events And Student Engagement
Beyond mentoring and teaching, Alfonsi and Pelley will participate in a Nov. 11 conversation moderated by Cobb, during which they will reflect on significant stories from their careers, lessons learned, and ethical dilemmas they've navigated. Cobb said the school moved quickly to secure the appointments but kept them confidential until closer to the start of the academic year.
Meanwhile, "60 Minutes" has announced a new roster of correspondents ahead of the program's 59th season.
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