A Pregnant Pause at CBS’ ‘60 Minutes’?

Meredith Vieira, the sole female correspondent on “60 Minutes,” is leaving the popular magazine show in a dispute over her workload during pregnancy, according to sources at CBS.

Vieira, who is pregnant with her second child, recently told executive producer Don Hewitt that she wanted to continue to work part-time on the show. But Hewitt, who had expected her to begin working full time soon in preparation for next season, found that idea unacceptable.

Vieira was meeting with CBS News President Eric Ober on Wednesday, and an announcement about her departure from the show was expected soon. Vieira could not be reached for comment.

In an interview Wednesday, Hewitt denied that Vieira was being forced out because she is pregnant, framing the issue instead as one of workload.

“She came to me and said that she wanted to stay on part time, but who’s going to take up the slack?” Hewitt said. “I’ve got an exhausted Mike Wallace, Morley Safer, Ed Bradley and Steve Kroft, and I can’t ask them to do any more stories than they’re doing now. I need five full-time people now.”

Veteran correspondent Harry Reasoner previously had announced his intention to retire at the end of the season.

“I had expected Meredith to begin working full time as of now,” Hewitt said. “I was surprised that she wasn’t committed to being what she told me she was when we first met--to be a full-time correspondent and to be as good as everybody else around here.”

Vieira’s workload has been an issue between her and Hewitt for the past several months. When she was hired in May, 1989 (as only the second female on “60 Minutes,” following the departure of Diane Sawyer), Vieira negotiated an agreement whereby she would work part time on the show so that she could spend time with her son, then an infant. Hewitt agreed to have her contribute 10 to 15 pieces for the first two seasons, about half of what the other “60 Minutes” correspondents do, but sources on the program said that he was never happy with the arrangement.

In an interview with The Times published last month, Hewitt, asked to appraise Vieira’s work, said, “She has yet to make her mark in the world. . . . I think her gaze was split between being a mother and being a reporter.”

Vieira acknowledged at that time having had “a rocky beginning” on the high-rated program but said that she wanted to remain with “60 Minutes.” Several days ago, she went to Hewitt to tell him that she wanted to continue working part time through her pregnancy and for some time afterward.

Vieira, 37, who has been considered one of the bright young stars at CBS, may get another assignment on the network. She has been with the network since 1982 and was a correspondent for the now-defunct series “West 57th” prior to joining “60 Minutes.”

Hewitt declined to speculate on who would be hired to replace her on “60 Minutes.” Lesley Stahl and Connie Chung were said to be possible replacements.