A fired “60 Minutes” producer ripped into his former CBS News bosses in a social media tirade, alleging the network’s management has tapped anchors with scant experience but “exceptional haircuts.”
In a fiery Facebook post on Tuesday, Guy Campanile, a 34-year veteran of CBS News who was bounced from his job as managing editor of “60 Minutes” three months ago, ranted over CBS News’ revamp under Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss.
“Showcase anchors with shallow experience but blessed with exceptional haircuts,” the 58-year-old Campanile wrote mockingly of the network’s turnaround strategy under 42-year-old Weiss. “Hype everything to a point where it’s hard to tell what is really important.”
Campanile added: “Making matters worse is the cadre of self-described influencers and on-line opinionists who market themselves as ‘journalists’. Some have been given control of our most precious reporting institutions — including CBS News.”
Campanile didn’t name names, but he appeared to be referring to Weiss’ background as an opinion writer at both “The Wall Street Journal” and “New York Times.”
Weiss hired Peter Attia, a longevity podcaster who was let go after his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein was exposed. She also hired controversial neuroscientist and podcaster Andrew Huberman at CBS News, and “New York Times” opinion columnist Ross Douthat as a “60 Minutes” correspondent.
As for the hair comment, sources said Campanile was likely referring to front-facing talent including “CBS Evening News” anchor Tony Dokoupil, who was once a hair model, as well as Matt Gutman, a charismatic correspondent from ABC and anchor Norah O’Donnell.
Weiss hired Gutman as both a correspondent for CBS News as well as a contributor on “60 Minutes,” while O’Donnell now serves as a “60 Minutes correspondent and co-host of “CBS Mornings.”
Campanile was fired along with executive producer Tanya Simon, executive editor Draggan Mihailovich, senior producer Matthew Polevoy,and correspondents Scott Pelley, Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega three months ago.
The gruff Yonkers native wrote that he and his colleagues were fired because they “refused to be accomplices in the destruction of the most prestigious news program on American television.”
Campanile likewise ripped Weiss’ decision to oust the majority of last season’s “60 Minutes” cast.
“I have not publicly shared details of what I experienced this past year as Managing Editor at ’60 Minutes,’” he said. “It’s wise to remain quiet when emotions are raw. After some time and deep reflection, I am now comfortable and prepared to talk about it.”
A CBS spokesperson didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
CBS News has denied that it infused the show’s reporting with any bias.
As previously reported by The Post, Campanile questioned Weiss harshly about her strategy for the show when she started at the network, which sources said rubbed the new boss the wrong way.
Campanile wrapped up his note by encouraging his former colleagues to “hold the line.”
“Don’t give an inch because they will keep scraping away until there’s nothing left worth a damn,” he said.
Although Campanile did not reveal his future plans, The Post recently reported that he and his former “60 Minutes” colleagues led by ex-boss Bill Owens want to launch a rival news series.
The post Fired ‘60 Minutes’ producer rips CBS News revamp under Bari Weiss: ‘exceptional haircuts’ appeared first on New York Post.
