A major media mogul surrendered to one of the key demands of the surviving "60 Minutes" journalists, according to reporting by the New York Times.
David Ellison, the chief executive of Paramount Skydance, promised to give "60 Minutes" more editorial independence during a call, Lesley Stahl told the Times.
Along with Bill Whitaker and Jon Wertheim, Stahl is one of the last journalists sticking with the iconic "60 Minutes" despite recent firings and a Trump-friendly takeover.
Ever since Bari Weiss took over as the editor-in-chief of CBS News, "60 Minutes" has undergone an overhaul that has led to the firing of correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and veteran journalist Scott Pelley, who confronted network leadership. The New York Times noted that Ellison has been friendly with Trump as Paramount seeks federal approval of an $111 billion deal to buy Warner Bros. Discovery.
Stahl, Whitaker, and Wertheim said in a letter that they want to stay put because they don't "want to see '60 Minutes' die," according to the Times.
The day after Ellison conceded to keep "60 Minutes" independent, Stahl, Whitaker, Wertheim, and other "60 Minutes" staff had a champagne toast in the show's Midtown Manhattan offices, according to the NYT.