Former managing editor of 60 Minutes, Guy Campanile, who was fired in May along with several top correspondents, has spoken out about his dismissal. In a private Facebook post obtained by the Guardian, Campanile said he and his colleagues were let go because they refused to compromise their journalistic principles by reporting unverified information or White House talking points. Campanile, who spent 34 years at CBS News, initially decided to stay silent about his firing, considering it “wise to remain quiet when emotions are raw.” But after time and reflection, he felt ready to speak out, saying he was now “comfortable and prepared to talk about it.” Campanile and his former colleagues—Tanya Simon, Dragan Mihailovich, Matthew Polevoy, Scott Pelley, Sharyn Alfonsi, and Cecilia Vega—were removed from 60 Minutes as part of a management overhaul. In his post, Campanile said they refused to be complicit in what they viewed as the decline of the respected news program. He stated that they objected to being told to conduct interviews arranged by the White House and insisted on asking tough questions to leaders without fear or favor. “We questioned authority—including our own bosses,” he wrote. He argued that this kind of independent journalism is essential to a strong newsroom. Campanile criticized the recent changes at 60 Minutes, saying editorial independence had been sacrificed for corporate priorities and ideological influence. He described the current state of journalism as one where “information has become commoditized” and “facts are increasingly treated as items in a buffet, chosen depending on specific appetite and ideological tastes.” He lamented that television news now focuses more on presentation than on in-depth examination, often prioritizing sensationalism over substance. He also criticized the influence of online “opinionists” and influencers who have taken over key roles in newsrooms, arguing that many lack the experience or understanding needed to make critical programming decisions. Scott Pelley, another longtime journalist fired by CBS News, was told he was let go for “cause” related to his behavior during a meeting with the show’s executive producer and network managing editor. In that meeting, Pelley criticized Bari Weiss, the new editor-in-chief of CBS News, saying she was “murdering 60 Minutes” and had been brought in to “kill it.” Weiss, a former opinion writer, has faced backlash from many network staffers over concerns about her impartiality. In his final remarks, Campanile reflected on his long career at CBS, calling it an “amazing adventure” and expressing pride in the experiences and relationships he built during his time there. He urged his former colleagues to hold the line against the erosion of journalistic integrity, warning that “they will keep scraping away until there’s nothing left worth a damn.” He also quoted Thomas Jefferson, saying, “Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.” The Guardian has reached out to CBS News for comment.