NEW YORK — Steve Kroft, the veteran journalist who spent three decades as a correspondent for CBS's iconic newsmagazine 60 Minutes, has revealed in a candid interview that he 'hated' much of his time on the program due to its cutthroat competitive environment and relentless pace. Speaking with conservative commentator Bill O'Reilly in a discussion released earlier this month, Kroft, now retired, said he 'probably wouldn't' repeat his storied career if given the chance, despite earning numerous Emmys, Peabody Awards, and a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions.
Kroft's tenure at 60 Minutes, which began in the early 1980s and lasted until his retirement in 2019, made him one of the most recognizable faces in broadcast journalism. He covered major global events, including the Gulf War in 1991 and the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster, and conducted high-profile interviews such as 17 separate sit-downs with former President Barack Obama. Perhaps most notably, Kroft led the program's infamous 1992 interview with then-Governor Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary, addressing allegations of marital infidelity during the presidential campaign—a moment that drew millions of viewers and shaped public perceptions of the Clintons' personal lives.
In the interview with O'Reilly, Kroft opened up about the behind-the-scenes pressures that soured his experience. 'I hated the competitive nature of the iconic TV program and its nonstop news cycle,' he said, according to a report from Deadline. He described his colleagues as 'so paranoid' about being undermined in what he called a 'cutthroat work environment.' Kroft contrasted this with his earlier role as a CBS correspondent in the London bureau, which he described as the 'job I always wanted' because it allowed him to travel extensively without the intense internal rivalries.
Recalling the day he was selected for 60 Minutes, Kroft shared a poignant memory of misplaced optimism. 'I can remember when I was tapped to go to 60 Minutes, I thought this was fantastic and I expected that a lot of people would just come up and say, “That’s really great, I’m really happy for you,”' he told O'Reilly. But reality quickly set in: 'And then you realize after a while that not everybody was happy that I got this job. There were other people that wanted it. And so then you’ve all of a sudden made a bunch of enemies. It’s a snake pit.'
Despite the interpersonal tensions, Kroft acknowledged the professional highs of the job. He called 60 Minutes 'exhilarating' for the freedom it provided to pursue in-depth stories, often with significant resources and airtime. The program's format, which debuted in 1968 under creator Don Hewitt, has long been praised for its investigative rigor and has won over 100 Emmys collectively. Kroft's segments often delved into complex issues, blending on-the-ground reporting with pointed interviews that held power to account.
The adrenaline from dangerous assignments also played a role in the job's appeal, Kroft admitted. He referenced reporting from war zones, including the Vietnam War era, where the thrill of survival amplified the excitement. 'You get excited about the fact that you’re still alive,' he said, highlighting how such experiences could become addictive amid the program's high-stakes demands. During the Gulf War, for instance, Kroft embedded with U.S. troops, providing viewers with firsthand accounts of the conflict that unfolded from January to February 1991.
Yet, the grueling schedule ultimately overshadowed these rewards. Kroft painted a vivid picture of the daily grind: 'The job is just 24 hours a day. I mean, you may get a couple hours of bad sleep. Beepers going off, getting on jets, going here and there, the whole thing, then coming back and spending, you know, three or four days writing the script, and then going to the screenings and then getting on, starting it all over again.' This nonstop cycle, he noted, left little room for work-life balance, a complaint echoed by other longtime correspondents in the industry.
60 Minutes has long been a cornerstone of CBS News, known for its ability to break major stories and influence public discourse. The program airs Sundays at 7 p.m. Eastern on CBS, consistently ranking as one of the top-rated shows in television history. Kroft joined at a time when the newsmagazine was solidifying its reputation, following pioneers like Mike Wallace and Morley Safer. His departure in 2019 came amid broader changes at CBS, including shifts in leadership and the rise of digital media challenging traditional broadcast models.
'60 Minutes was really appealing, and I thought I wasn’t really sure I was ever going to get there. I didn’t really seriously think about it. And then, when I did, there’s so many things that, first of all, the job is just 24 hours a day,' Kroft said in the interview.
Kroft's reflections come at a moment when journalism faces renewed scrutiny over workplace culture and burnout. Reports from outlets like The New York Times and The Washington Post have detailed similar issues in newsrooms, from intense competition for bylines to the emotional toll of covering traumatic events. While Kroft's comments are specific to 60 Minutes, they resonate with broader conversations about the sustainability of high-pressure roles in media.
Neither CBS News nor current 60 Minutes producers responded immediately to requests for comment on Kroft's remarks. However, the program's executive producer, Bill Owens, has previously praised the team's collaborative spirit in public statements, emphasizing how the competitive edge drives quality journalism. Kroft himself clarified that while the environment was tough, it produced some of the best work of his career, including award-winning pieces on topics ranging from corporate scandals to international crises.
Looking back, Kroft expressed no regrets about his overall path into journalism, which began after graduating from Syracuse University in 1966 and serving in the Army during the Vietnam era. His early days at CBS included stints in local reporting before ascending to national prominence. The London posting from 1977 to 1980, where he covered European affairs, remains a highlight, offering a contrast to the intensity of 60 Minutes.
The interview with O'Reilly, conducted via podcast and released on April 15, 2026, marks one of Kroft's rare post-retirement appearances. O'Reilly, a former Fox News host known for his confrontational style, steered the conversation toward Kroft's personal experiences rather than current events. At 80 years old, Kroft now lives in New York, occasionally teaching journalism workshops and writing memoirs.
As 60 Minutes enters its 57th season this fall, Kroft's disclosures offer a window into the human cost behind its polished segments. For aspiring reporters, his story underscores the glamour and grit of the profession, where prestige often comes at a steep personal price. Whether his views represent a minority opinion among alumni or a common refrain remains to be seen, but they add nuance to the legacy of one of television's most enduring programs.
In the end, Kroft's ambivalence highlights the paradoxes of success in journalism: the pursuit of truth amid rivalry, and the rush of deadline-driven work tempered by exhaustion. As the industry evolves with streaming and social media, such insights from veterans like Kroft could inform how news organizations adapt to keep their talent engaged and healthy.