As a seasoned cinephile who has witnessed the evolution of news broadcasting over the past few decades, I find Alison Pepper‘s decision to depart from CBS News after the 2024 presidential election a bittersweet moment. Her extensive experience spanning across various roles within CBS, including her tenure at “60 Minutes” and her recent stint supervising talent recruitment, has undeniably left an indelible mark on the industry.


Alison Pepper, a seasoned talent executive at CBS News and currently serving her second term at the Paramount Global division, has announced that she will be departing after the 2024 presidential election. This was shared with staff members in a memo distributed on Thursday.

In simpler terms, “Pepper stated that it has been an honor to work alongside each one of you, whom he regards as more than just colleagues but like family, during some of the most significant news events of recent times. He shared that he cherished every moment of this experience. However, recognizing the major changes in our organization, Pepper has chosen to part ways with CBS News following the election.

Paramount Global is trying to save $500 million from their expenses due to decreases in traditional viewers on their cable channels and high costs associated with operating their Paramount+ streaming platform. The company is set to be purchased by Skydance Media, who may aim for further cost-cutting measures.

Starting from 2021, Pepper resumed her role at CBS, tasked with overseeing the hiring and nurturing of talent across all CBS News channels. Notably, in recent times, she played a significant part in recruiting Robert Costa and Scott MacFarlane, two politically focused journalists who have made a name for themselves at CBS News, an organization known for its closed-off culture.

Moreover, it’s important to note that CBS News is not just an isolated entity; it’s also connected to the company’s network of local television stations. In addition to the current executive overseeing talent at CBS News, there’s another executive named Laurie Orlando who manages talent for these properties. Interestingly, before the latest arrival of Pepper, Orlando had previously worked for CBS News.

Initially joining CBS News, Pepper climbed up the ranks to become a senior producer at “60 Minutes.” In this role, she oversaw the broadcast and recruited new journalists for both on-camera and behind-the-scenes positions. She started her journey with the show in 2004, contributing to its growth into various domains, including “60 Minutes Sports,” which aired for several seasons on Showtime, and an online presence on YouTube.

She had been working as an agent at CAA before returning to CBS News.

Pepper expressed in her memo that she’ll consistently support you, extraordinary journalists whom she’s privileged to work alongside and promote. You’ve always been, and forever will be, the benchmark of excellence,” (paraphrased version)

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2024-10-25 00:46