The Race to Rebuild ‘60 Minutes’
Last Thursday, “60 Minutes” Executive Producer Nick Bilton arrived at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue for an important meeting ahead of the newsmagazine’s fall season. Bilton, I’m told, had scheduled an off-the-record with the White House communications office for a meet-and-greet session in which he introduced himself to officials as he settles into his new position.
Contrary to what some CBS News staffers had speculated upon learning about the meeting from colleagues, I’m told that Bilton did not explicitly ask for an interview with Donald Trump or any other administration official, though my understanding is the show would like to secure a sit-down with Marco Rubio. Instead, Bilton, who was in town for the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, simply sought to establish a relationship with those who will ultimately decide whether to grant his team access down the road.
A CBS News spokesperson declined to comment for this story. A White House spokesperson also declined to comment.
In any event, Bilton’s pilgrimage to the White House is far from the only behind-the-scenes effort taking place ahead of what will be a closely watched fall season. Status has learned that Bilton, CBS News Editor-In-Chief Bari Weiss, and other senior network leaders, including deputy editor Adam Rubenstein and managing editor Charles Forelle, have all been…