Student criticizes CBS News, accepts $10,000 scholarship

A high school senior publicly criticized CBS News for its editorial direction while accepting a scholarship funded by the network during an awards ceremony in New York City on Wednesday night. Santiago Campos, a student from Washington, D.C., received the Mike Wallace Memorial Scholarship at the 47th Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards.

In his acceptance speech, Campos thanked CBS News for the $10,000 scholarship but stated that the outlet's recent direction stains the legacy of Mike Wallace, the legendary CBS journalist for whom the award is named. His remarks drew loud applause from the audience. Campos warned that as corporate elites take hold over the very pipes through which our information flows, journalism that serves the people becomes increasingly harder to come by, yet ever more crucial. He concluded by urging journalists to prioritize truth, asking them to remember who their work is for.

The scholarship was presented by Scott Pelley, a correspondent for 60 Minutes, who praised Campos and said the late Mike Wallace would be looking down with pride. Pelley also acknowledged veteran 60 Minutes correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi, who was in the audience. Earlier that same...