Don Hewitt

executive producer, CBS News

More than 50 years after joining CBS News, Don Hewitt continues to influence television journalism, much as he did when he helped develop many of its methods for reporting news, beginning in 1948. His pioneering work in producing and directing many of the broadcasts of the world's major news events during television's infancy provided a blueprint that news producers still rely on today. But Hewitt is best known and most respected for another innovation, *60 Minutes*, the groundbreaking news broadcast he created in 1968 that is the most successful broadcast in television history. After 36 years on *60 Minutes*, Hewitt stepped aside as executive producer in June 2004, but he continues to provide advice and counsel to Jeff Fager as he moves into the executive producer post to ensure a smooth transition of leadership. Hewitt began his journalism career in 1942 as head copyboy for the *New York Herald Tribune* after attending New York University for one year. During World War II, he served as a correspondent in the European and Pacific theaters (1943-45). Hewitt is the author of *Tell Me a Story: Fifty Years and 60 Minutes in Television* (PublicAffairs, April 2001), in which chronicles his life as a newsman. He is also the author of the book *Minute by Minute* (Random House, 1985).