Was Scott Pelley let go as “CBS Evening News” anchor because he didn’t have the right tone on Donald Trump?
That’s the speculation after the network announced that Pelley will return full-time to “60 Minutes,” where he’s been a fixture for six years.
ABC News said: “CBS’ effort to brand itself as the home of hard-edged newscasts has been a success in the morning, not so much in the evening — and … Pelley paid the price for it with his job.”
Lee Kamlet, a former ABC News producer and dean of the communications school at Quinnipiac University, said: “It would be a mistake to take from this that people don’t want a solid news program.”
“But they are more inclined to want it in the morning, when they haven’t been on their news and social media feeds throughout the night.”
Pelley’s onscreen demeanor — “strict and steeling, disavowing both charm and irony” — was appropriate for the nation’s mood in the wake of last decade’s financial crisis, news consultant Andrew Tyndall told ABC.
“But it has proven less so for the Trump era.” ABC said. “Despite a heightened interest in news that has propelled cable personalities like Rachel Maddow to new heights in recent months, the evening newscasts haven’t benefited. Collectively, the three networks reach 24.2 million each night, down 4 percent from last year, the Nielsen company said.”
Other people on Pelley, successor to Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather:
Two thoughts on Scott Pelley ouster: 1. CBS News was not prepared for PR side of this. Lack of official statement so far is stunning. (1/2)
— Dylan Byers (@DylanByers) May 31, 2017
.@ScottPelley is a truly remarkable newsman and it will be sad to see him depart @CBSEveningNews. https://t.co/16gnQCNKho
— Scott Nover (@ScottNover) May 31, 2017
My column on Scott Pelley’s being yanked from anchor chair: regrettable decision, handled in a less-than-classy way https://t.co/A3CJUq1iQC
— Margaret Sullivan (@Sulliview) May 31, 2017
Pelley did a serious, thoughtful newscast (and spoke in complete sentences). Will be unfortunate if CBS moves away from that for ratings.
— Kyle Blaine (@kyletblaine) May 31, 2017
