Tony Dokoupil Pays Tribute to Scott Pelley Following His Departure From 60 Minutes

Tony Dokoupil addressed the departure of Scott Pelley during Wednesday's broadcast of CBS Evening News, offering a heartfelt reflection on his longtime colleague's impact at the network.

The 45-year-old anchor spoke directly to camera during the June 3 program, recalling Pelley's presence when Dokoupil first joined CBS. "When I started at CBS, Scott Pelley was in this very chair still doing a dozen stories a year for 60 Minutes. And amid all of that, meeting every new correspondent to share his view of the mission here," Dokoupil said.

He highlighted Pelley's core belief in the importance of press freedom, invoking founding father James Madison's philosophy. "He believed Freedom of the Press, to quote James Madison, was the right that guaranteed all the others and that the stakes are always that high. And that if you made it to CBS News, you were among the best in the world. He worked every single day to live up to that standard," Dokoupil explained.

Dokoupil also noted a symbolic gesture Pelley made to the program, referencing a recent rebrand. The longtime journalist had changed the show's logo to read "CBS Evening News with All of Us," removing his own name from the title.

"Well, Scott, from all of us, thank you," Dokoupil concluded.

Pelley's exit comes amid a broader reshuffling at CBS News, with editorial chief Bari Weiss overseeing significant organizational changes. His departure followed a confrontation with newly hired executive producer Nick Bilton, a journalist with a background in technology coverage who was brought in by Weiss.