⚡ ABC News Producer Calls 60 Minutes Firings An “Absolute Horrific Earthquake” As CBS News Turmoil Deepens

The turmoil inside CBS News has now spilled beyond the walls of the network, with one ABC News producer describing the recent 60 Minutes firings as an “absolute horrific earthquake” for the entire journalism industry.

According to PEOPLE, producers across multiple networks have been shaken by the sudden changes at the legendary CBS newsmagazine. The ABC producer said the shock is not limited to CBS alone, because 60 Minutes has long been viewed as a gold standard for serious reporting, powerful interviews, investigative journalism and major scoops. Even rival journalists, the producer said, looked up to the show’s legacy and the quality of work produced by its team.

The shake-up has included several major names. PEOPLE reported that Cecilia Vega and Sharyn Alfonsi were let go from the show on May 28, while longtime CBS veteran Scott Pelley was fired on June 3 after a heated clash with newly appointed executive producer Nick Bilton. Pelley’s exit drew special attention because he had spent 37 years at CBS and had become one of the most recognizable faces associated with the network’s tradition of hard-news reporting.

The circumstances surrounding Pelley’s firing have only intensified the controversy. PEOPLE cited a termination letter in which Bilton accused Pelley of “ambush,” “hostility” and “misconduct,” saying his employment had been terminated for cause. But critics of the decision argue that heated debate has always been part of the culture at 60 Minutes, especially when journalists are fighting over important stories and editorial standards.

Former 60 Minutes producer Rome Hartman strongly criticized the new leadership, saying vigorous arguments were not unusual at the program and were often part of making the journalism stronger. Hartman argued that Pelley was doing what he believed he should have done by challenging the new direction after several colleagues were removed.

The ABC producer’s reaction adds another layer to the growing crisis. From the outside, the producer questioned why CBS would risk damaging a program considered one of the most respected and profitable platforms in television news. The producer called the decisions “head-scratchers” and warned that the final judgment will come from viewers — through both the quality of journalism that remains and whether audiences continue to watch.

CBS News has pushed back against claims of improper interference. A spokesperson told the Wall Street Journal that there is no political interference at CBS News and described the internal disputes as normal editorial back-and-forth between editors and correspondents.

Still, the damage to newsroom morale appears significant. For many journalists, 60 Minutes is not just another television program. It is a symbol of what long-form broadcast journalism can be when it is ambitious, independent and deeply reported.

That is why the firings have caused such a strong reaction. Competitors may battle for ratings and scoops, but the collapse of trust inside a program like 60 Minutes is something the entire industry feels.

For now, the question hanging over CBS is simple but serious: can 60 Minutes survive this earthquake without losing the reputation that made it matter?