The Elite Seven: Full List Of Current 60 Minutes Reporters And Their Latest Groundbreaking 2025 Investigations

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The landscape of investigative journalism is constantly shifting, but the core team at CBS’s 60 Minutes remains the gold standard for in-depth news reporting. As of this current date in December 2025, the elite roster of full-time correspondents—often referred to as the "Seven"—continues to deliver the hard-hitting, long-form stories that have defined the program for over five decades. This article provides the definitive, up-to-date look at the journalists leading the charge, their impressive career biographies, and the most recent, must-see investigations they’ve aired in the 2024–2025 season.

The 58th season of the iconic newsmagazine is marked not only by the correspondents' stellar work but also by a significant leadership change: the appointment of Tanya Simon as the new Executive Producer, the first woman to hold the top role in the show's history. This blend of seasoned veteran reporters and fresh leadership ensures the program’s continued relevance in a fast-paced media world, upholding the legacy established by legends like Mike Wallace and Morley Safer.

The Elite Seven: Full Biography and Career Milestones of the Current 60 Minutes Correspondents

The strength of 60 Minutes lies in the individual authority and distinctive reporting style of its correspondents. Each member of the core team brings decades of experience and a collection of major journalism awards, including multiple Emmy Awards and Peabody Awards, to the broadcast. Here is the full, current roster.

Lesley Stahl: The Longest-Serving Woman

  • Biography: Lesley Stahl is one of America's most recognized and experienced broadcast journalists, having served as a 60 Minutes correspondent since 1991. Before joining the newsmagazine, she was the CBS News White House Correspondent during the Carter and Reagan presidencies, and later moderated Face the Nation.
  • Awards: She is the recipient of numerous awards, including multiple Emmy Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Journalism Award.
  • Recent 2024–2025 Focus: Stahl has recently explored complex global issues, including a report on the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan's focus on Gross National Happiness and an investigation into Kenyan workers who reported being overworked and exploited while training Artificial Intelligence (AI) models for American tech companies.

Scott Pelley: The Award-Winning Investigator

  • Biography: Scott Pelley has been reporting for 60 Minutes since 2004 and previously served as the anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News. He is known for his unflinching reporting on major political and international events.
  • Awards: Pelley is one of the most decorated journalists in the field, having won a record 51 Emmy Awards, four Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Awards, and three George Foster Peabody Awards.
  • Recent 2024–2025 Focus: In a notable 2025 moment, Pelley made headlines for an on-air rebuke of CBS corporate owners Paramount over the network's independence amid a potential sale to Skydance Media. His reports continue to cover critical topics like the impact of war on children and his work is often featured at major events like the Learn Serve Lead 2024 plenary.

Bill Whitaker: The Social Justice Voice

  • Biography: Bill Whitaker is a veteran CBS News journalist, having covered major news stories globally for decades. His work often centers on social justice, race relations, and complex investigations.
  • Awards: He is a highly decorated journalist, with multiple Emmy Awards and a 2024 Lifetime Service Award from his alma mater. His reporting on "The Swiss Leaks" earned him a 2016 Emmy.
  • Recent 2024–2025 Focus: Whitaker has delved into high-tech threats, including a March 2025 investigation into the mysterious swarms of unexplained drones spotted above the United States and a gripping report on infiltrating ransomware gangs like ScatteredSpider and BlackCat on the dark web.

Anderson Cooper: The CNN Crossover

  • Biography: Anderson Cooper, the anchor of CNN's Anderson Cooper 360°, contributes reports to 60 Minutes through an agreement between CNN and CBS News. He joined the team in 2007.
  • Awards: Cooper has received numerous honors for his work at both CNN and 60 Minutes, including multiple Emmy Awards, a National Headliners Award, and a Peabody Award for his coverage of Hurricane Katrina.
  • Recent 2024–2025 Focus: Cooper’s recent segments have explored the cutting edge of technology and culture, including a December 2024 report where he experienced an AI-powered tutor, Khanmigo, to show how it could shape the future of education.

Sharyn Alfonsi: The Hard-Hitting Contributor

  • Biography: Sharyn Alfonsi first appeared on 60 Minutes in 2015 and quickly established herself as a correspondent known for her compelling, in-depth reports.
  • Awards: She is a two-time winner of the prestigious Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award, including one for her reporting on migrant issues at the U.S.-Mexico border, and a Gracie Award for On-Air Talent.
  • Recent 2024–2025 Focus: Alfonsi’s recent work has covered the future of warfare, featuring an interview with Anduril founder Palmer Luckey about autonomous weapons. She has also reported from Thailand on scientists studying elephants to mitigate human-elephant conflict.

Jon Wertheim: The Sports and Culture Specialist

  • Biography: L. Jon Wertheim is a correspondent who joined the newsmagazine in 2017. He is also the Executive Editor of Sports Illustrated, bringing a unique focus on sports, economics, and culture to the program. He is the author of eleven books.
  • Awards: As a respected journalist and author, he is a New York Times bestselling writer and a regular contributor to CNN and NPR.
  • Recent 2024–2025 Focus: Wertheim’s segments often blend sports and social issues, such as his 2024 report on the rise of sports betting and his analysis of the entire WNBA—not solely Caitlin Clark—as the breakout star of the 2024 season.

Cecilia Vega: The Newest Face

  • Biography: Cecilia Vega is the newest full-time correspondent, having joined 60 Minutes in 2023 from ABC News, where she served as the Chief White House Correspondent.
  • Awards: She is an Emmy Award-winning journalist whose move to 60 Minutes signaled a major career shift to long-form investigative reporting.
  • Recent 2024–2025 Focus: Her recent reports have covered national security and human-interest topics, including a 2025 report on Americans spying for Cuba in the U.S. and a feature on a farmer for a segment on American agriculture.

From AI to Global Conflict: The Most Recent and Hard-Hitting 60 Minutes Stories (2024-2025)

The 2024–2025 season has proven that 60 Minutes remains committed to covering the most crucial and often overlooked stories of our time. The correspondents have collectively focused on three major topical areas: the rapid evolution of Artificial Intelligence, complex geopolitical espionage, and high-stakes financial investigations.

The AI Revolution and Its Dark Side

Artificial Intelligence has been a recurring theme, with multiple correspondents tackling its ethical and practical implications. Lesley Stahl’s reporting from 2024 exposed the human cost of AI development, detailing the exploitation of Kenyan workers who are low-paid for the difficult task of training the very algorithms used by major American tech companies.

In a more optimistic light, Anderson Cooper’s report showcased the potential of AI in education, specifically demonstrating the capabilities of the Khanmigo AI-powered tutor. This juxtaposition highlights the show's balanced approach to complex technology stories.

Geopolitics and High-Stakes Espionage

The team continues its tradition of world-class international reporting. In 2025, Bill Whitaker's investigation into drone swarms and unexplained aerial phenomena above the US brought a national security focus to the program.

Cecilia Vega contributed a significant 2025 piece on Americans spying for Cuba within the United States, while Lesley Stahl’s work detailed how Israel's Mossad has utilized covert operations to counter threats like Hezbollah. These segments maintain the show's reputation for access to sensitive, global intelligence stories.

Financial and Social Investigations

Financial crime and social issues remain a cornerstone of 60 Minutes. Bill Whitaker’s collaboration on the dark web investigation into notorious ransomware gangs like ScatteredSpider, BlackCat, and LockBit provided a rare look inside the world of cyber extortion, demonstrating the real-world impact of digital crime.

Meanwhile, Sharyn Alfonsi’s report on human-elephant conflict in Thailand and Jon Wertheim’s deep dive into the massive growth of sports betting highlight the diverse range of topics that fall under the show's investigative umbrella.

Beyond the Camera: The New Leadership and Contributing Voices Shaping 60 Minutes' Future

The enduring success of 60 Minutes is not solely due to its on-air talent but also the leadership behind the scenes and the strength of its contributing journalists. The program is currently navigating a period of transition and reinforcement.

A New Executive Producer: Tanya Simon

In a major update for 2025, veteran producer Tanya Simon was named the new Executive Producer of 60 Minutes, succeeding Bill Owens. Simon is only the fourth executive producer in the broadcast's 57-year history and, significantly, the first woman to hold the role. Her appointment is seen as a move to provide stability and guide the newsmagazine through its next chapter, ensuring the high standards set by original EP Don Hewitt continue.

The Extended Roster of Contributing Correspondents

While the "Elite Seven" carry the bulk of the reporting, 60 Minutes frequently utilizes the expertise of contributing correspondents from the wider CBS News family to provide additional depth and coverage.

A notable contributing correspondent is Norah O'Donnell, the anchor of the CBS Evening News, who regularly files reports for the newsmagazine. Her involvement ensures that major breaking news events covered by the network can also be explored in the in-depth format unique to 60 Minutes.

Upholding a Legacy of Giants

The current team of correspondents stands on the shoulders of journalism giants. The topical authority of the program is built on the foundation laid by legendary figures such as Mike Wallace, Ed Bradley, and Morley Safer. Their commitment to challenging authority and telling uncomfortable truths established the template that Lesley Stahl, Scott Pelley, and the entire modern team continue to follow today.

The combination of a stable, award-winning core team, a pioneering new Executive Producer in Tanya Simon, and a constant flow of fresh, relevant investigations ensures that 60 Minutes will remain America's premier television news program for the foreseeable future. The program's willingness to tackle everything from AI's ethical dilemmas to global espionage confirms its status as an essential weekly broadcast.

current 60 minutes reporters
current 60 minutes reporters

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