New 60 minutes correspondents are taking on prominent roles as CBS prepares for the return of its flagship Sunday newsmagazine and a new season under executive producer Nick Bilton. The latest team includes familiar veterans, newly appointed correspondents and several contributors bringing backgrounds in investigative reporting, documentary filmmaking, international affairs and long-form journalism.
CBS has now presented the season 59 team in a striking group portrait photographed by Mark Seliger at New York City’s Oyster Bar in Grand Central Station. The photograph features Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker, Norah O’Donnell, Jon Wertheim and Ross Douthat as correspondents, alongside Gianna Toboni, Sebastian Junger, Ariel Levy, Sir Trevor Phillips and Matt Gutman as contributors.
The lineup gives viewers a clear look at the personnel guiding the program into its next season.
CBS Reveals the Season 59 Team
The new team portrait is more than a promotional image. It captures a significant transition for the long-running CBS program.
Season 59 brings together journalists with very different professional backgrounds. Some have spent decades in television news, while others have built careers in magazines, documentaries, international broadcasting or investigative journalism.
The current correspondent group consists of Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker, Norah O’Donnell, Jon Wertheim and Ross Douthat.
The contributor group includes Gianna Toboni, Sebastian Junger, Ariel Levy, Sir Trevor Phillips and Matt Gutman.
Nick Bilton now oversees the program as executive producer. CBS appointed him to the position in May 2026, making him only the fifth executive producer in the show’s history.
The new season therefore begins with both a leadership change and a noticeably different mix of journalists.
Norah O’Donnell Takes on a Bigger Role
Norah O’Donnell is one of the most recognizable names among the new lineup.
CBS announced in July that O’Donnell would become a correspondent for the program after previously working as a contributing correspondent. Her increased involvement gives the show a journalist with extensive experience interviewing political leaders, covering major national events and reporting for CBS’s biggest broadcasts.
O’Donnell has also returned to another major CBS assignment.
She began co-hosting CBS Mornings with Gayle King and Nate Burleson in September 2026. Her return to the morning program comes while she continues her role with 60 Minutes.
Her broader presence across CBS gives the network another experienced journalist who can work across different formats while contributing to long-form reporting.
For the Sunday program, O’Donnell represents both continuity and change. She already knows the CBS newsroom and its audience, but her new correspondent role gives her a more prominent place in the season 59 lineup.
Ross Douthat Joins as a Correspondent
Ross Douthat represents one of the most notable additions to the correspondent roster.
Douthat is widely known for his work as a New York Times opinion columnist. His career has focused heavily on politics, culture and public affairs, along with interviews and long-form commentary.
His appointment gives the program a correspondent whose professional background developed primarily through written journalism.
That experience can add another style to the program’s interviews and reporting. Douthat has conducted high-profile interviews with political and technology figures, giving him a substantial body of experience with major public issues.
His transition to 60 Minutes also marks an important move from newspaper opinion journalism into a larger television reporting role.
CBS announced Douthat’s appointment alongside several other additions in July. He joins Stahl, Whitaker, O’Donnell and Wertheim as part of the current correspondent lineup.
Nick Bilton Leads the New Era
Nick Bilton sits at the center of the changes taking place at 60 Minutes.
CBS named Bilton executive producer on May 28, 2026. He succeeded Tanya Simon and became the fifth person to hold the executive producer position in the program’s history.
Bilton brings a background that combines journalism, technology reporting, writing and documentary production.
He previously worked as a columnist for The New York Times and as a special correspondent for Vanity Fair. He has also worked as an executive producer and producer on Netflix documentary projects.
His appointment came after a turbulent period for the program and gives him responsibility for shaping its editorial direction.
Bilton has described the goal as maintaining the core mission of 60 Minutes while reaching audiences across more platforms.
The season 59 lineup reflects that approach. The team includes traditional television correspondents as well as journalists whose careers have developed in print, documentaries, digital media and international broadcasting.
Lesley Stahl Remains a Key Correspondent
Lesley Stahl remains one of the most established members of the team.
Her continued presence gives the program a direct connection to its long history of television journalism.
Stahl has spent decades at CBS and remains one of the most recognizable 60 Minutes correspondents. Her reporting and interviews have been a major part of the program’s identity for years.
Her inclusion alongside the newer members creates a balance between experience and fresh perspectives.
For season 59, viewers will therefore see Stahl working within a team that includes journalists from several generations and different areas of the media industry.
Bill Whitaker Continues With the Program
Bill Whitaker is another veteran correspondent remaining on the current team.
Whitaker has built a long career at CBS News and has become closely associated with the Sunday program. His reporting has covered politics, international affairs, science, culture and major human-interest stories.
His continued role gives the show another experienced television journalist as it introduces new names.
The presence of Whitaker alongside Stahl and Jon Wertheim means that the season 59 lineup retains important elements of the established 60 Minutes identity.
At the same time, the additions of Douthat and O’Donnell change the overall composition of the correspondent group.
Jon Wertheim Remains on the Correspondent Team
Jon Wertheim also continues as a correspondent.
Wertheim has developed a broad reporting portfolio at 60 Minutes, with stories involving sports, culture, technology, international affairs and other subjects.
His versatility makes him a natural fit within a team that now includes journalists with increasingly varied backgrounds.
The combination of Wertheim, Stahl and Whitaker gives season 59 a strong base of experienced correspondents while the newer members add different reporting perspectives.
Gianna Toboni Joins as a Contributor
Gianna Toboni is among the journalists joining the program as a contributor.
Toboni has experience in investigative reporting and previously worked with VICE News and CNN.
Her reporting has covered difficult subjects involving international conflict, criminal organizations, violence and complicated social issues.
CBS highlighted her broad reporting experience when announcing her appointment.
Her contributor position gives the program access to her investigative background while allowing the network to use her expertise on stories that require extensive field reporting and research.
The latest team portrait confirms that Toboni is part of the season 59 group.
Sebastian Junger Brings Documentary Experience
Sebastian Junger is another new contributor.
Junger is an author, journalist and documentary filmmaker best known for nonfiction storytelling. His work has included reporting on war, military service and the experiences of people living through extreme circumstances.
He is also known for the book The Perfect Storm, which established him as a major nonfiction writer.
His move into the 60 Minutes contributor group adds another journalist experienced in documentary-style storytelling.
That background fits the program’s long-form format, where stories often require extensive reporting, interviews and time in the field.
Junger’s role also demonstrates that the program is drawing talent from beyond traditional network television.
Ariel Levy Adds Long-Form Magazine Journalism
Ariel Levy is another contributor joining the current team.
Levy is known for her work at The New Yorker and for long-form reporting that examines culture and society.
Her journalism background gives the team another perspective rooted in magazine reporting.
CBS added Levy to the contributor group in August, making her one of the more recent additions to the season 59 roster.
Her inclusion further broadens the range of professional experience represented on the program.
The season now includes journalists who have worked in newspapers, magazines, television, documentary filmmaking and international broadcasting.
Sir Trevor Phillips Brings International Perspective
Sir Trevor Phillips also joins as a contributor.
Phillips is a British broadcaster and journalist who has spent decades working in television and public affairs.
He was previously announced as CBS News’ senior global affairs correspondent before taking on his contributor role with 60 Minutes.
His international background provides another perspective for stories involving global politics and international affairs.
Phillips has developed a reputation for interviewing prominent figures and questioning people in positions of influence.
His addition strengthens the international experience available within the season 59 team.
Matt Gutman Expands His CBS Role
Matt Gutman is also part of the current contributor group.
CBS News brought Gutman into the network in January 2026 as chief correspondent. His responsibilities include reporting for CBS Mornings and CBS Evening News, serving as a lead correspondent for 48 Hours and contributing to 60 Minutes.
Gutman arrived at CBS after a long career at ABC News.
His reporting background includes major international conflicts, breaking news and difficult field assignments.
His experience makes him one of the most seasoned field reporters among the newer members of the CBS lineup.
His addition to 60 Minutes therefore gives the program another journalist with extensive experience reporting from challenging locations.
The Mark Seliger Team Photo Marks the Transition
The latest team photograph has attracted attention because of its setting as much as its lineup.
Mark Seliger photographed the season 59 group at the Oyster Bar in Grand Central Station.
The location has a deep connection to CBS’s broadcasting history.
Grand Central Terminal served as an early home for CBS Television Studios. Edward R. Murrow, Walter Cronkite and Douglas Edwards all broadcast from the terminal during the early years of television.
Murrow’s programs See It Now and Person to Person were also recorded above the Oyster Bar.
That history made the location particularly fitting for a photograph introducing a new generation of 60 Minutes journalists.
Seliger is an established portrait photographer whose work has appeared in major publications including Vanity Fair and Rolling Stone.
The resulting photograph brings the veteran correspondents and newer contributors together in one frame.
What Makes the Season 59 Lineup Different
The current roster stands out because of the range of experience among its members.
The team includes:
- Lesley Stahl: veteran 60 Minutes correspondent
- Bill Whitaker: longtime CBS News correspondent
- Norah O’Donnell: CBS journalist and newly appointed 60 Minutes correspondent
- Jon Wertheim: established 60 Minutes correspondent
- Ross Douthat: New York Times opinion columnist turned CBS correspondent
- Gianna Toboni: investigative journalist and contributor
- Sebastian Junger: author, journalist and documentary filmmaker
- Ariel Levy: New Yorker writer and contributor
- Sir Trevor Phillips: British journalist and global affairs correspondent
- Matt Gutman: CBS chief correspondent and contributor
This mixture gives the program access to journalists with experience across several forms of reporting.
It also creates a larger pool of specialists who can approach stories from different professional perspectives.
The Season 59 Premiere Is Set for September 13
The new lineup will officially begin its latest season on Sunday, September 13, 2026.
CBS has scheduled the premiere for 7:30 p.m. ET/PT on the CBS Television Network and Paramount+.
Norah O’Donnell will conduct the first interview with a U.S. Air Force officer involved in a complex rescue operation after spending two days behind enemy lines in Iran.
The premiere will also include a profile of the Los Angeles Rams.
These reports will give viewers the first opportunity to see the newly assembled team working under Bilton’s leadership.
The debut also arrives only months after Bilton assumed the executive producer position.
That timing makes the opening broadcast an important introduction to the program’s new leadership and personnel structure.
Why the New Correspondent Lineup Matters
The changes surrounding the new 60 minutes correspondents extend beyond a few new names.
CBS has combined some of its most recognizable veteran journalists with people coming from different corners of the journalism industry.
O’Donnell brings major network-news experience.
Douthat brings a background in opinion writing and public affairs.
Junger brings documentary and nonfiction reporting.
Toboni brings investigative journalism.
Levy brings magazine reporting.
Phillips brings international broadcasting experience.
Gutman brings extensive field reporting.
Stahl, Whitaker and Wertheim provide continuity.
Bilton now has the responsibility of bringing those different strengths together under one editorial operation.
The season 59 lineup therefore represents a clear change in personnel while retaining several of the journalists who have helped define the program for years.
CBS Moves Into Season 59 With a Broader Team
The current lineup gives viewers a much clearer picture of where 60 Minutes is heading.
The program has retained its veteran foundation while introducing journalists with different professional backgrounds and areas of expertise.
The Mark Seliger photograph captures that transition particularly well. It places established correspondents and newer contributors together in a setting connected to the earliest years of CBS broadcasting.
With the season 59 premiere approaching, viewers now know which journalists will form the visible team behind the program’s next chapter.
The combination of experienced correspondents, new voices and contributors gives CBS a broad roster for the stories ahead.
Which of the new 60 Minutes correspondents are you most interested in watching this season? Share your thoughts and stay tuned for the latest developments from the program.