New Pioneer Don Hewitt Dies
Don Hewitt, who was the creator of CBS News’ ‘60 Minutes’ and a pioneer in the news industry as a whole, died on Wednesday after battling pancreatic cancer. He was 86 years old and died at his home in Bridgehampton, NY.
A longtime CBS News producer, Hewitt worked with Walter Cronkite and Edward R. Murrow, two giants in the industry. He was also a crucial figure in creating modern-day television newscasts. He directed the first news program, which featured Douglas Edwards, and was also the executive producer of the first network newscast, which was anchored by the late Cronkite, who was another legend in CBS News.
Hewitt helped bring in television as the most used source of news during the last half of the 1900s. He came up with holding cue cards for anchors, which brought the teleprompter that is used now, as well as pioneered how cameras are used to cover major events. Hewitt even directed the first presidential debate that was aired on television, which was held in 1960 between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon. Then in 1968, he created ‘60 Minutes’, the one hour documentary program, which turned into one of the top ten most watched programs for almost 25 years.
On Wednesday morning after Hewitt’s passing, top CBS executives offered their remembrances, including CBS Corp. President Leslie Moonves, News and Sports President Sean McManus, and ‘60 Minutes’ Executive Producer Jeff Fager. Hewitt is survived by Marilyn Berger, a former Post and network television reporter he married in 1979, two sons from his first marriage to Mary Weaver, and two daughters from his second marriage.