Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker and Jon Wertheim to Remain at CBS News: 'We Don't Want to See 60 Minutes Die' [View all]

(The Wrap) Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker and Jon Wertheim have decided to stay at "60 Minutes" for its upcoming 59th season this fall, despite the recent firings of Scott Pelley and other colleagues.

"We feared that our returning might be construed as an endorsement of the existing power structure. That is simply, categorically not the case," they wrote in a memo to CBS News staff on Friday. "Here's why we're are staying: We don't want to see '60 Minutes' die."

"We have had a hard time deciding whether to stay at '60 Minutes.' We're still deeply upset by the firings of Tanya and Draggan, strong leaders who everyone respected," the journalists noted. "As far as we can tell — because no explanation has ever been offered, they were expelled because they fought for our '60 Minutes' values and stood up to protect our independence and integrity."

"Newsrooms are not supposed to be run like dictatorships. Collaboration and argument are the way we have always worked at '60.' Don Hewitt actually encouraged loud, passionate advocacy for our pieces," they added. "This goes for Sharyn, Cecilia and Scott as well, all at the top of the world of TV journalism who exemplified '60 Minutes'' ethos of tough questions and honest storytelling."

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/tv/articles/lesley-stahl-bill-whitaker-jon-161345606.html