Sharyn Alfonsi and Scott Pelley, two of the correspondents ousted from 鈥�60 Minutes鈥� as part of at the storied CBS 91欧美激情 show, are moving from the newsroom to the classroom.
Columbia Journalism School announced Monday that the two would serve as Journalists in Residence for the upcoming academic year.
In a statement, the school said the two, who both amid changes imposed by CBS 91欧美激情’ editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss, would in their part-time positions advise and mentor students, give lectures and contribute to the Columbia Journalism Review, among other things.
鈥淭heir appointments give CJS students access to two journalists whose reporting has shaped the national conversation for decades,” the statement said. “Alfonsi and Pelley have covered many of the defining stories of our time 鈥� from war and politics to public health, criminal justice and international affairs.鈥�
In an interview, Jelani Cobb, dean of the journalism school, said he had reached out to Pelley the day after he was fired in early June after he confronted CBS 91欧美激情 leadership about the changes instituted by Weiss. That included replacing the show鈥檚 executive producer, Tanya Simon, with Nick Bilton, who had little substantial broadcast TV experience.
鈥淥ne of the responsibilities of my job is to have an eye out for talent that鈥檚 available,鈥� Cobb said. 鈥淭he caliber of their investigative work was just unparalleled. 鈥�60 Minutes鈥� is the preeminent investigative broadcast news show for a reason.鈥�
The decision was made quickly, and then was kept under wraps in order to announce the news closer to the beginning of the academic year, Cobb said.
In a statement released by the school, Alfonsi, who spent more than a decade reporting for 鈥�60 Minutes鈥� before the show failed to renew her contract this year, called the new position “an extraordinary privilege, especially at a time when deep, rigorous and fearless reporting has never been more vital.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 excited to work with the next generation of journalists who are eager to ask the tough questions that hold power accountable,” Alfonsi said.
Pelley, who anchored 鈥淐BS Evening 91欧美激情鈥� and spent more than 37 years at the network, 27 of them at 鈥�60 Minutes,” noted in his statement that it was 鈥渁 critical time for a free press.鈥�
鈥淐olumbia is leading the way in training the next generation of great journalists and I am honored to join Sharyn in that vital cause,” Pelley said.
In addition to their work advising and mentoring students, Alfonsi and Pelley will participate in a Nov. 11 dialogue moderated by Cobb, the dean said.
That panel will discuss 鈥渟ignificant stories that they鈥檝e done over the course of their careers, what they鈥檝e learned as journalists, how they have navigated different ethical conflicts that have come up 鈥� the things that they鈥檝e learned over the course of their careers,鈥� Cobb said.
At 鈥�60 Minutes,鈥� meanwhile, ahead of the show’s 59th season.
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
