CBS News has announced that long-time evening anchor Scott Pelley will be vacating his post to become a full-time correspondent for 60 Minutes, America's most-watched news program.
Since 2011, Pelley has been both a correspondent for 60 Minutes and the anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley. This will mark Pelley’s 14th season with 60 Minutes, as the program enters its 50the season; he joined the program as a correspondent in 2004.
“Scott's work over many years at 60 MINUTES has been extraordinary. So has his dedication to consequential reporting,” said Jeff Fager, Executive Producer of 60 Minutes. “It is exciting for all of us, and good for our viewers, that he will be focusing all of his efforts on 60 Minutes.”
With Pelley at the helm, CBS Evening News grew its audience in each of the first five seasons, the longest run of growth for any network evening news broadcast in the history of the modern ratings system.
Pelly also led the team to win gain numerous prestigious honors, including seven Emmys, two George Foster Peabody Awards, an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Award, two George Polk Awards, 13 Edward R. Murrow Awards and a host of additional honors.
Pelley thanked his colleagues for six successful years with the broadcast: “I find my heart filled with gratitude for the opportunity to know you, humility, in light of your sacrifices, and hope for the future of journalism because of the standards you live by,” Pelley said. “CBS has been great to me for nearly 30 years. I’m glad to accept this assignment with continuing gratitude.”
Pelley has deep roots in Texas. San Antonio, in fact, is where the more than 30-emmy award-winning journalist was born. Pelley grew up in Lubbock and later attended Texas Tech where he majored in journalism.
CBS said that Anthony Mason will serve as the interim anchor of the CBS Evening News beginning in the coming weeks. Mason, who is one of the most experienced journalists at CBS News, will continue to co-anchor CBS This Morning with Alex Wagner.
