Ross Douthat, a longtime conservative columnist for The New York Times, has been hired as a full-time correspondent for CBS News' '60 Minutes.' The announcement was made Tuesday by executive producer Nick Bilton, who also named three other contributors to the program: Sebastian Junger, Gianna Toboni, and Trevor Phillips.
Douthat, 46, is the first full-time correspondent added to '60 Minutes' since a major overhaul last spring that saw the departure of several veteran journalists, including Scott Pelley, Sharyn Alfonsi, and Cecilia Vega. The shake-up followed the hiring of Bari Weiss as CBS News editor in chief, who was tasked with shifting the network's political coverage toward the center.
Bilton described Douthat as 'one of the preeminent public intellectuals in America today,' citing his 'uncommon rigor' and 'deep empathy' in journalism. Douthat's work has included interviews with high-profile figures such as Vice President JD Vance, Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett, and former Senator Ben Sasse.
Junger, an award-winning author and filmmaker known for 'The Perfect Storm,' will join as a contributor. Toboni, a former correspondent for VICE News and CNN, will also contribute to the program. Norah O'Donnell, previously a contributing correspondent, will expand her role as a full-time correspondent.
The hiring of Douthat marks a notable addition of a conservative voice to a broadcast news network, where liberal-leaning perspectives have historically dominated. CBS News has undergone significant changes in recent months, with several high-profile departures and new hires aimed at reshaping its editorial direction.