As 60 Minutes begins its fortieth season this Sunday — with Scott Pelley‘s exclusive interview with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad — USA Today’s Peter Johnson talks with Morley Safer, who says the show continues to adhere to its guiding principle: to “tell interesting stories and not be salacious.” EP Jeff Fager says this year will not be too different from past seasons, “a typical mix of good and bad guys, adventures big and small, big interviews, stories that are important or just plain interesting.”
But as time goes by, what does change is 60’s correspondent corps. Johnson writes that relative newcomer Katie Couric — whose interview with former CIA agent Valerie Plame is slated to air in October — may file more stories this year than last season. “She wants to be a big part of this broadcast,” Fager explains, “and I think she’s going to be able to do it.” Mike Wallace, now 89, “still has his office at 60 but is no longer part of the lineup,” Johnson adds, “although he may contribute stories, Fager said.”