NEW YORK — Columbia Journalism School announced on August 4, 2026, that Scott Pelley and Sharyn Alfonsi will serve as Journalists in Residence for the 2026-2027 academic year. The appointments follow the June 2026 ouster of both journalists from "60 Minutes" after editorial disputes at the network.

In their new roles, Pelley and Alfonsi will advise and mentor students, give lectures, and contribute to the Columbia Journalism Review. Jelani Cobb, the dean of the Columbia Journalism School, said the school was honored to welcome two journalists of this caliber to its program.

"We’re both excited and honored to welcome two journalists of this caliber to our Journalist in Residence Program," Cobb said in a statement. Their distinguished track records in investigative reporting represent the amazing opportunity our students will have to learn from them, and we look forward to having Sharyn and Scott with us this year. He added that one of the responsibilities of his job is to have an eye out for talent that is available.

Pelley spent 37 years at the network, including 27 years at "60 Minutes." He also anchored the evening news program and served as the network's chief White House correspondent from 1997 to 1999. Pelley is the author of the 2019 book Truth Worth Telling.

Alfonsi spent more than a decade reporting for "60 Minutes." She has reported from war zones in Iraq, Gaza, and Afghanistan, and covered Hurricane Katrina and the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Her work has earned three Emmy Awards, the Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award, a Sigma Delta Chi Award, two Gracie Awards, the Ridenhour Prize for Courage, and a Writers Guild of America Award.

"Joining Columbia University as a Journalist in Residence is an extraordinary privilege, especially at a time when deep, rigorous and fearless reporting has never been more vital," Alfonsi said in a statement. She said she is excited to work with the next generation of journalists who are eager to ask the tough questions that hold power accountable.

Pelley described the appointment as a critical moment for journalism. "This is a critical time for a free press," Pelley said in a statement. "Columbia is leading the way in training the next generation of great journalists and I am honored to join Sharyn in that vital cause."

The departures occurred after Bari Weiss became editor-in-chief of the network. Nick Bilton replaced Tanya Simon as the executive producer of "60 Minutes." Pelley confronted leadership about changes instituted by Weiss before his firing.

Pelley told a newspaper that management instructed him to inject falsehoods and bias into a politically sensitive story. He accused Weiss of murdering "60 Minutes." A representative for the network stated that the editing process involved normal back-and-forth.

Bilton stated in a memo that Pelley hijacked his first meeting with staffers and showed unwillingness to collaborate. Alfonsi clashed with Weiss over a report investigating the deportation of migrants to prisons in Venezuela.

Cobb reached out to Pelley the day after he was fired in early June. "The caliber of their investigative work was just unparalleled," Cobb said. He noted that "'60 Minutes' is the preeminent investigative broadcast news show for a reason," he said.

Pelley and Alfonsi will participate in a dialogue moderated by Cobb on November 11, 2026. Other former staff members have also left the program. Cecilia Vega was ousted from "60 Minutes" in June 2026, and Anderson Cooper left earlier in 2026.

Bill Owens is exploring launching a rival news series with former "60 Minutes" staff. He is seeking $50 million to fund the proposed news series. Owens may recruit Alfonsi, Vega, Simon, Guy Campanile, Draggan Mihailovich, and Matthew Polevoy for the new venture.

Why It Matters

The appointment of two ousted '60 Minutes' veterans to Columbia Journalism School redirects experienced investigative talent from commercial broadcasting to academic training. This shift occurs as former staff explore launching a rival news series, signaling a potential redistribution of resources and expertise within the industry. The move places journalists who clashed with network leadership over editorial disputes in positions to shape the next generation of reporters.