SAG-AFTRA & WGAE Condemn CBS News’ ‘60 Minutes’ Firings, Call Terminations An Assault On Independent Journalism

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CBS News fired Scott Pelley and other correspondents from 60 Minutes, drawing swift condemnation from SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America East. The unions characterized the terminations as a "continued assault on the foundations of CBS News" and an attack on independent journalism. SAG-AFTRA emphasized that journalists have a federal right to speak up about workplace concerns without fear of retaliation, implying the firings may have been retaliatory in nature. The unions' statements frame the dismissals as a threat to press freedom and worker protections.