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Don Hewitt
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Don Hewitt
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Donald Shepard Hewitt[1] (December 14, 1922 – August 19, 2009) was an American television news producer and executive, best known for creating the CBS television news magazine 60 Minutes in 1968, which at the time of his death was the longest-running prime-time broadcast on American television.[2] Under Hewitt's leadership, 60 Minutes was the only news program ever rated as the nation's top-ranked television program, an achievement it accomplished five times.[3] Hewitt produced the first televised presidential debate in 1960.[4]

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Hewitt was born in New York City, New York, the son of Frieda (née Pike) and Ely S. Hewitt (changed from Hurwitz or Horowitz).[5] His father was a Jewish immigrant from Russia, and his mother's family was of German Jewish descent.[1][5] Hewitt's family moved to Boston, Massachusetts, shortly after his birth, where his father worked as a classified advertising manager for the Boston Herald American. His family later lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He graduated from New Rochelle High School, in New Rochelle, New York.

College and early career

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Hewitt attended New York University and started his journalism career in 1942 as head copyboy for the New York Herald Tribune.[1] He joined the United States Merchant Marine Academy in 1943 and served as a journalist for Stars and Stripes in London.[6] Hewitt later returned to sea as an ensign in the Naval Reserve.[7] After World War II ended in 1945, Hewitt returned to his job as copyboy for the Tribune, then worked for The Associated Press at a bureau in Memphis, Tennessee. However, his wife Mary Weaver—whom he married while working in Memphis—wanted to go to New York City, so he moved back.[1][4]

Back in New York City, Hewitt started working at the E.W. Scripps Company-owned photo agency ACME Newspictures, which was later merged into co-owned news service United Press[8][9]

Career at CBS News

[edit]

Hewitt soon received a lucrative offer at the CBS television network, which was seeking someone who had "picture experience" to help with production of television broadcast.[4] He began working at its news division, CBS News, in 1948 and was producer-director of the network's evening-news broadcast with Douglas Edwards for fourteen years.

He was also the first director of See It Now, co-produced by host Edward R. Murrow and Fred W. Friendly which started in 1951; his use of "two film projectors cutting back and forth breaks up the monotony of a talking head, improves editing, and shapes future news broadcasts."[3] In 1956, Hewitt was the only one to capture on film the final moments of the SS Andrea Doria as it sank and disappeared under the water.[3] He directed the televised production of the first 1960 U.S. presidential candidate debate between Senator John F. Kennedy and Vice-president Richard M. Nixon on September 26, 1960, at the CBS studios in Chicago. It was the first presidential candidate debate ever televised. He later became executive producer of the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite, helming the broadcast of John F. Kennedy's assassination as the story developed.[10]

External videos
video icon "Life and Career of Don Hewitt", April 5, 1994, C-SPAN

He then launched the eight-time Emmy Award-winning show 60 Minutes. Within ten years, the show reached the top 10 in viewership, a position it maintained for 21 of the following 22 seasons, until the 1999–2000 season.[3]

Hewitt was a primary figure in the televising of a 1996 60 Minutes documentary on the tobacco industry scandal involving the tobacco company Brown & Williamson, in which the program eventually reported the allegations of whistleblower Jeffrey Wigand. Initially wary of a lawsuit, Hewitt sided with CBS News management and killed the Wigand story by censoring the interview.[11] After blowback, a more complete presentation of the story was allowed to air, but the handling of the issue remained "a dark, sorry period in the otherwise virtuous life of 60 Minutes."[12] The overall scandal was the inspiration for the 1999 film The Insider.[13] Hewitt was portrayed in the film by Philip Baker Hall.

Declining ratings at 60 Minutes—after decades of being in the top 10, the show had dropped in rankings to number 20—contributed to what became a public debate in 2002 about whether it was time for CBS to replace Hewitt at 60 Minutes. According to The New York Times, Jeff Fager, producer of 60 Minutes II, was being floated as a possible replacement,[3] speculation that proved to be accurate. The show was still generating an estimated profit of more than $20 million a year, but the decline in viewership and profit meant the show could no longer "operate as an island unto itself, often thumbing its nose at management while demanding huge salaries and perquisites."[3] Within a couple of years, Hewitt stepped aside as executive producer at the age of 81, signing a ten-year contract with CBS to be an executive producer-at-large for CBS News.[1]

In January 2010, 60 Minutes dedicated an entire show to the story and memory of Hewitt.[14]

In 2018, an internal CBS investigation found that in the 1990s Hewitt had been accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting a former CBS employee over a period of years. CBS determined that the employee's allegations were credible and by 2018 had paid her over $5 million in settlements in exchange for her silence.[15]

Personal life and death

[edit]

Hewitt was married three times:

  • Mary Weaver with whom he had two sons: Jeffrey and Steven.[4]
  • Frankie Teague Hewitt - American theater producer and founder of the Ford's Theatre Society who was responsible for restoring and reopening the historic site as a working theater. They had a daughter: Lisa Gabrielle Hewitt Cassara, former coordinating producer of the syndicated television show "A Current Affair";[16] and he adopted her daughter Jilian Childers from a previous marriage.[4]
  • Marilyn Berger - American broadcast and newspaper journalist.[4] Through Berger, Hewitt is the great-uncle of Rob Fishman.

In March 2009, Hewitt was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer from which he died on August 19, 2009, at his home in Bridgehampton, New York.[2][17]

Honors

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Bibliography

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References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Don Hewitt

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Donald Shepard Hewitt (December 14, 1922 – August 19, 2009) was an American television news producer and executive best known for creating the magazine program in 1968. Hewitt's career at spanned over five decades, during which he pioneered techniques in , including innovative camera angles, graphic elements, and the use of cue cards, transforming how news was presented on television. He produced the landmark 1960 televised debate between and , which highlighted the power of visual media in politics and influenced future election coverage. Under his leadership as executive producer, became the longest-running and highest-rated primetime broadcast in U.S. television history, blending investigative reporting with dramatic to attract massive audiences and redefine news as entertainment. Hewitt's tenure was not without conflict; he clashed with CBS executives in the 1990s over editorial interference in stories, including a controversial segment on whistleblower that faced corporate pressure, underscoring tensions between journalistic independence and network . Earlier, a 1982 60 Minutes report questioning General William Westmoreland's body count estimates led to a high-profile libel suit that was eventually dropped after a partial favoring the network, highlighting risks in aggressive reporting. Hewitt stepped down as producer in 2004 amid internal disputes, but his format endures as a staple of television .

Early Life and Education

Childhood and Family Background

Donald Shepard Hewitt was born on December 14, 1922, in to Jewish parents of Eastern European descent. His father, Ely S. Hewitt (originally surnamed Hurwitz or Horowitz), was a Russian Jewish immigrant who worked as an advertising salesman for Hearst newspapers, including as manager for The Boston American, and later operated a business distributing circulars door-to-door. His mother, Frieda Pike Hewitt, was a German Jewish immigrant. The family resided primarily in , a suburb north of the city, where Hewitt spent his formative years, though some accounts note a brief relocation to tied to his father's employment. Hewitt's upbringing reflected a middle-class Jewish household, with observance of major holidays such as and , during which he stayed home from school. No records indicate siblings, suggesting he was an . His early exposure to media came through his father's profession in and newspapers, fostering an interest in from a young age. The family's immigrant roots and modest circumstances shaped a pragmatic worldview, with Hewitt later recalling influences from , including Broadway characters as childhood heroes.

Formal Education and Early Influences

Hewitt graduated from in , in 1940. He enrolled at in 1941 on a track and field scholarship, reflecting his athletic background from high school. However, he departed after completing one year of studies, opting instead to enter the workforce in rather than continue formal higher education. This decision was driven by Hewitt's early fascination with the dynamic environment of newsrooms, influenced by fictional portrayals of journalists and producers such as Hildy Johnson, the determined reporter from the play , and Julian Marsh, the authoritative showman in 42nd Street. These characters from Broadway productions captivated him during his youth in , fostering an aspiration for high-stakes storytelling and production that aligned more with practical experience than academic pursuits. Shortly after leaving NYU, he secured his first job as a copy boy at the , marking the onset of hands-on immersion in print journalism that shaped his foundational skills in editing and news gathering. Records also indicate brief attendance at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, likely in connection with wartime preparations, though it did not lead to a degree or prolonged academic engagement. Overall, Hewitt's limited formal underscored a self-directed path prioritizing real-world apprenticeships over structured schooling, a choice that propelled his rapid ascent in media despite lacking a .

Pre-CBS Career

Initial Media Roles

Hewitt entered the media industry in 1942, securing his first position as head copyboy at the after dropping out of . In this entry-level role, he performed tasks such as running errands, fetching copy, and assisting reporters, gaining foundational exposure to print journalism operations in a major daily newspaper. Following , Hewitt took on editorial responsibilities at the Pelham Sun, a local in New York, where he worked from 1946 to 1947. This brief stint honed his skills in news editing and layout for community-oriented print media. By 1947, Hewitt had advanced to the night telephoto editor position at Acme Newspictures, the photographic wire service affiliated with United Press in . There, he managed the transmission and selection of news photographs for distribution to newspapers nationwide, dealing with the era's technology to ensure timely visual coverage of events. This role marked his entry into , bridging print and emerging visual media, and lasted until early 1948.

Military Service and Film Production

Hewitt enlisted in the United States Merchant Marine during , enrolling as a at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in , in 1943 at age 20. He participated in transatlantic convoys, crossing the Atlantic aboard cargo ships amid threats, before transitioning to journalism roles. As a war correspondent for the military newspaper Stars and Stripes, Hewitt covered operations from , where he became the youngest reporter assigned at age 20, focusing on Merchant Marine activities, and later in the Pacific theater through 1945. He returned to sea as an ensign in the Naval Reserve post-hostilities. Following demobilization, Hewitt briefly worked as night editor for the before taking a position as night telephoto editor at Acme Newspictures, the photographic wire service affiliated with United Press, in in 1948, handling image transmission and editing for national distribution ahead of his CBS entry. This role marked his initial foray into visual news media, bridging print journalism to broadcast production, though no records indicate direct motion picture filming or production during this pre-CBS period.

Career at CBS News

Entry and Early Contributions

Don Hewitt joined CBS News in 1948 as associate director of with the News, the network's pioneering 15-minute evening television newscast that marked one of the earliest regular TV news programs. He quickly advanced to producer and director of the program, holding that role for 14 years until 1962, during which he helped transition radio-era news practices to the visual demands of television, emphasizing concise scripting and live-like delivery to fit the medium's constraints. In this capacity, Hewitt directed landmark broadcasts, including episodes of Edward R. Murrow's from 1951 to 1958, where he innovated techniques like multiple-camera setups to capture investigative segments on topics such as Senator Joseph McCarthy's tactics and the vaccine's development. His work on these early shows prioritized factual storytelling over narration, laying groundwork for viewer-engaged journalism by focusing on unadorned evidence presentation. Hewitt's early contributions extended to producing the first televised U.S. presidential debate on September 26, 1960, between candidates and Richard M. Nixon, which drew an estimated 70 million viewers and demonstrated television's power to influence public perception through visual cues like candidate appearances and unscripted exchanges. By 1961, he became executive producer of the with , expanding the format to 30 minutes in 1963 and overseeing coverage of events like the Kennedy assassination on November 22, 1963, where real-time production decisions ensured comprehensive, on-the-ground reporting. These efforts established Hewitt as a key architect of CBS's dominance in broadcast news during television's formative decade.

Key Pre-60 Minutes Productions

Hewitt directed the premiere episode of See It Now, Edward R. Murrow's pioneering newsmagazine series, on November 18, 1951, which demonstrated the first live coast-to-coast television transmission by simultaneously showing the in New York and the in [San Francisco](/page/San Francisco) using split-screen technology. As the program's initial director, Hewitt employed innovative film editing techniques, such as parallel storytelling across multiple screens, to enhance narrative depth in episodes covering topics like and political figures. In 1960, Hewitt directed the first televised U.S. presidential debate between Senator and Vice President on September 26, broadcast live from and viewed by an estimated 70 million Americans. This event, part of a series of four debates, introduced visual presentation as a critical factor in , with post-debate analyses attributing Kennedy's poised appearance to influencing public perception. Hewitt also oversaw CBS's coverage of national political conventions starting with the first fully televised one in , directing live broadcasts that captured key moments in American electoral history. From 1963, as executive producer of with , he managed daily broadcasts and special reports on breaking events, including the network's real-time response to President Kennedy's assassination on November 22, 1963, which involved coordinating film footage and on-scene reporting under tight deadlines. These efforts established Hewitt's reputation for blending technical precision with compelling storytelling in live news production.

Creation and Development of 60 Minutes

Don Hewitt conceived the 60 Minutes format in 1967 as a weekly newsmagazine to deliver extended, investigative reporting on topics underserved by the two-minute segments typical of evening news broadcasts. Collaborating with executive Bill Leonard, Hewitt structured the hour-long program into three segments of approximately 20 minutes each, featuring correspondents conducting on-location interviews, investigations, and features with a focus on narrative storytelling rather than rote news reading. This approach drew from Hewitt's prior experience producing documentaries and specials, aiming to blend journalistic rigor with entertainment value to hold viewer attention. The program premiered on September 24, 1968, airing Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET, with Hewitt serving as and initial correspondents and leading segments that included hard-hitting interviews and field reports. Early episodes emphasized dramatic pacing, such as intercutting interviewer and subject reactions, but the show garnered mediocre ratings amid competition from established entertainment programming, resulting in its cancellation after the 1968–1969 season. CBS revived 60 Minutes on December 20, 1970, repositioning it within a Sunday-night block that allowed for irregular scheduling initially, before settling into a consistent 7 p.m. ET slot. Hewitt refined the format by incorporating more high-profile stories and correspondents like , while adhering to his dictum of "tell me a story" to prioritize viewer engagement through conflict, revelation, and resolution. These adjustments, combined with the addition of segments like Andy Rooney's commentaries in 1978, propelled ratings upward, with the program achieving No. 1 status by the mid-1970s and establishing the newsmagazine genre's viability.

Executive Producer Tenure (1968–2004)

Hewitt assumed the role of executive producer for upon its debut on September 24, 1968, and held the position continuously until his retirement on January 25, 2004, overseeing more than 1,000 episodes during his 36-year tenure. Under his direction, the program pioneered the television newsmagazine format, featuring three rotating correspondents each presenting a self-contained investigative segment within a one-hour block, which contrasted with traditional evening newscasts by prioritizing in-depth reporting over daily headlines. This structure allowed for a mix of hard-hitting interviews, exposés, and human-interest stories, with Hewitt enforcing a rigorous process that emphasized narrative drive—"tell me a story"—to engage viewers beyond mere facts. The show's ratings success peaked in the late 1970s and after its relocation to the 7:00 p.m. ET Sunday slot in 1975, where it consistently ranked among the top primetime programs and became the only to claim the #1 spot in the Nielsen ratings five times between 1976 and 1992. By the , episodes routinely drew 20–30 million viewers weekly, generating substantial advertising revenue for —up to $500,000 per 30-second spot at its height—and transforming news into a profitable primetime staple rather than a . Hewitt's hands-on production style involved personally editing segments, often cutting reports to under for pacing, and cultivating a team of aggressive correspondents including , , and , whose confrontational interviews with figures like Ayatollah Khomeini in 1979 and in 1974 exemplified the program's adversarial ethos. Awards accumulated steadily, with 60 Minutes securing 73 Emmy Awards, 13 DuPont-Columbia University Awards, and 9 under Hewitt's leadership, reflecting peer recognition for journalistic excellence in areas like investigative reporting and broadcast innovation. Notable milestones included the 1981 Emmy for Outstanding and Documentary Program for coverage of the Iranian Hostage Crisis and the program's role in breaking stories such as the Westmoreland-CBS libel trial in 1984, which tested but ultimately reinforced its commitment to verifiable sourcing amid legal scrutiny. Hewitt's tenure also saw expansions like the addition of Andy Rooney's commentary segment in 1978, which ran for over 1,000 weeks, and adaptations to evolving media landscapes, including early experiments with handheld cameras for field reporting to enhance immediacy and authenticity. Despite internal challenges such as correspondent turnover and network pressures for lighter content, Hewitt maintained editorial control, insisting on story-driven over , which sustained the show's credibility and viewership into the .

Innovations in Television Journalism

Technical and Production Techniques

Hewitt pioneered the use of chyrons—superimposed text on screen to identify individuals or locations—in late newscasts, adapting a simple diner blackboard concept with technicians to enhance visual clarity beyond radio-style audio delivery. He advocated for in early television, shifting from studio confinement to on-site filming for authentic, real-time footage, a practice that facilitated more immersive reporting. These methods integrated film clips and into broadcasts, breaking from static to create layered visual narratives. In directing the first network newscast with in 1948, Hewitt developed cue cards as an aid for on-air delivery, laying groundwork for the electronic still in use. He refined camera angles and graphic overlays, establishing conventions that prioritized viewer comprehension and pacing in live and taped segments. For 60 Minutes, launched in 1968, Hewitt adapted these techniques into a modular newsmagazine structure, producing compact 10- to 15-minute segments akin to Life magazine features, edited for tight pacing with minimal narration to emphasize raw footage and interviews. Production relied on portable equipment for remote locations, enabling rapid deployment and electronic news gathering precursors that captured unscripted moments, such as equipping interviewees with headsets for directed questioning without on-site anchors. Interviews incorporated cinematic elements, including dramatic lighting and environmental staging, as in the 1984 Jackie Gleason profile shot in a hazy bar with pool cues to evoke intimacy over formal setups. This approach minimized crew intrusion, using the camera team to channel correspondents' narratives directly.

Storytelling Philosophy and Format Innovations

Don Hewitt's storytelling philosophy for 60 Minutes emphasized narrative drive over issue-based reporting, encapsulated in his directive to producers: "tell me a story." He maintained that effective journalism humanizes events by focusing on individuals "swept up" in them, rather than abstract issues, citing the biblical account of Noah as an archetypal example of this technique. This approach, which Hewitt described as universal—"what everybody should be doing"—prioritized emotional engagement and viewer retention through personal drama, adapting the pictorial storytelling of magazines like Life to television's visual format. In production, Hewitt rejected bureaucratic tools like assignment desks or focus groups, relying instead on instinct to select and balance stories, often crafting teasers himself to hook audiences with concise, provocative phrasing. He advocated for a mix of serious investigative pieces and lighter segments to sustain interest, fostering a competitive environment among correspondents to pursue unique, high-impact narratives without memos or meetings. Hewitt's format innovations revolutionized television news by inventing the newsmagazine genre, an hour-long broadcast blending in-depth reports with features, which premiered on September 24, 1968, and served as a for imitators like ABC's 20/20. Key technical advancements included the iconic ticking stopwatch graphic, signaling urgency and segment timing, and the use of chyrons—on-screen text overlays—for clarity and emphasis. He pioneered field stand-ups by anchors, placing reporters directly in the action rather than studios, and elevated correspondents to peer status with subjects through unfiltered, confrontational interviews, often aided by innovations like headsets for real-time audio monitoring. These elements created compact, lively segments tailored to short attention spans, transforming news into entertainment while maintaining journalistic rigor.

Controversies and Criticisms

Accusations of Liberal Bias in Reporting

Critics of Don Hewitt's tenure at 60 Minutes have frequently accused the program of liberal bias, pointing to story selection, editing practices, and sympathetic portrayals of Democratic politicians as evidence of a left-leaning slant in reporting. Former CBS correspondent , in his 2001 book Bias: A CBS Insider Exposes How the Media Distorts the News, argued that , including 60 Minutes, systematically favored liberal perspectives through framing that downplayed conservative viewpoints and amplified progressive narratives on issues like welfare, crime, and . Goldberg cited internal admissions, such as commentator Andy Rooney's acknowledgment of a "liberal bias" at the network before retracting it under pressure, as indicative of a culture resistant to on ideological tilt. A specific incident often highlighted is the February 16, 1992, interview with Bill and Hillary Clinton, conducted amid allegations of Bill Clinton's affair with during the Democratic primaries. Hewitt, as executive producer, edited the segment to emphasize the Clintons' remorse and unity, airing it two days before the primary and ; polls subsequently showed a rebound in Clinton's support, which he dubbed the "comeback kid." Hewitt later boasted in interviews that his production choices "got Bill Clinton elected," a statement interpreted by detractors as an admission of partisan intervention rather than neutral . Further accusations arose from 60 Minutes' coverage of Republican figures and policies under Hewitt. During the 1970s Point/Counterpoint segment, liberal commentator was paired against conservative James Kilpatrick, with critics claiming Alexander received more airtime and emotive leeway, tilting debates leftward. In 2004, near the end of Hewitt's tenure, segments featuring former Bush officials Paul O'Neill and Richard Clarke—both critical of the and —were lambasted for resembling Democratic talking points, especially as O'Neill's book was published by parent Viacom without disclosure. Hewitt dismissed such charges, vehemently denying bias in conversations with Goldberg and insisting 60 Minutes prioritized compelling storytelling over ideology. Hewitt's own public statements, such as his 2004 avowal to vote for and criticism of Bush for "creating more terrorists" via the Iraq invasion, fueled perceptions among conservatives that his worldview influenced content.

Specific Incidents and Internal Disputes

In 1995, a significant internal dispute arose at CBS News over a proposed 60 Minutes segment featuring tobacco industry whistleblower Jeffrey Wigand, who alleged that Brown & Williamson knowingly manipulated nicotine levels to enhance addictiveness. Executive producer Don Hewitt supported airing the interview prepared by producer Lowell Bergman and correspondent Mike Wallace, but CBS corporate executives, citing potential libel suits amid a pending $5.4 billion merger with Westinghouse, imposed a delay and demanded script edits, prompting Bergman to threaten resignation and seek external publication of Wigand's claims. The segment eventually aired on November 12, 1996, after leaks to The Wall Street Journal intensified pressure, but the episode highlighted tensions between 60 Minutes' journalistic independence under Hewitt and network legal and financial priorities. Another major incident unfolded in September 2004 with a report, overseen during Hewitt's final months as executive producer, questioning President George W. Bush's service using memos attributed to the late Lt. Col. Jerry Killian. The documents were quickly challenged as forgeries by experts and bloggers, leading to an independent panel's finding of multiple failures in sourcing, authentication, and production processes at . Hewitt initially defended the story's core claims but later stated in February 2006 that should have been fired for the lapses, reflecting internal recriminations over vetting standards. The scandal contributed to Rather's departure from CBS and damaged the program's credibility. Additional controversies involved flawed reporting that drew lawsuits and retractions, such as the 1986 segment on 5000 sudden acceleration, which dramatized incidents later attributed primarily to driver error with foot on accelerator rather than mechanical failure, resulting in a $450,000 settlement with in 1995. Similarly, a 1991 profile of accused him of incest and tax evasion based on sources later discredited, prompting to append disclaimers after Erhard's successful libel suit and IRS retraction. These cases underscored criticisms of under Hewitt's tenure, though internal disputes were less documented than external legal fallout.

Legacy and Impact

Transformation of News Media Economics

Don Hewitt's creation and long-term stewardship of 60 Minutes demonstrated that television news could generate substantial profits, fundamentally altering the economic model of . Prior to the program's , network news divisions operated primarily as loss-leaders, subsidized by entertainment programming to fulfill regulatory obligations. Under Hewitt's direction from 1968 to 2004, 60 Minutes achieved top ratings in , attracting 20-30 million viewers per episode by the late and commanding premium advertising rates. This profitability stemmed from the show's efficient production—relying on reusable footage, star correspondents, and a repeatable format—while delivering investigative stories that rivaled entertainment in appeal. The program's financial impact was quantified in CBS's records: by , 60 Minutes had delivered over $1 billion in net profit to the network, with commercial revenues accumulating to an estimated $2.5 billion during Hewitt's initial 23 years as producer. Advertising spots, initially modest, escalated to high-value premiums due to the show's consistent dominance, enabling CBS News to fund broader operations without relying on corporate subsidies. This success subsidized unprofitable news bureaus and ventures, inverting the traditional dynamic where entertainment propped up journalism. Hewitt's approach—blending rigorous reporting with dramatic storytelling—proved that could compete commercially, prompting networks to prioritize audience share and over purely informational mandates. The transformation extended industry-wide, as competitors emulated the newsmagazine format to capture similar gains. ABC launched 20/20 in 1978 and NBC followed with Prime Time Live in the 1980s, spawning a proliferation of imitators that collectively shifted news from evening anchor-led summaries to episodic, personality-driven segments optimized for ratings and ad sales. This profit-oriented model encouraged cost efficiencies, such as reduced foreign bureaus and greater reliance on domestic scandals for viewership spikes, though Hewitt maintained that 60 Minutes adhered to factual standards amid the commercialization. In reflection, Hewitt acknowledged the double-edged legacy, stating that the show had equated news with the profit motive, thereby "destroying" television's prior separation of journalism from business imperatives.

Influence on Modern Journalism Practices

Hewitt's development of the 60 Minutes format in 1968 established a magazine-style structure featuring three to four short, self-contained segments per episode, blending investigative pieces with lighter profiles to sustain viewer engagement and accommodate short attention spans, a direct emulation of print magazines like . This approach prioritized narrative-driven over linear nightly news recaps, incorporating historical context, editorial commentary, and on-camera reporter confrontations—exemplified by Mike Wallace's aggressive interviews—which elevated correspondents to celebrity status and set a precedent for personality-driven . The format's success, achieving top Nielsen ratings for over 20 years and peaking at 28 million households in 1979–1980, demonstrated that rigorous reporting could compete in , prompting networks to launch imitators like ABC's 20/20 in 1978 and NBC's in 1992, thereby shifting broadcast news toward serialized, dramatic presentations. Production techniques innovated by Hewitt, including lower-screen chyrons for supplemental information, cue cards for anchors, and multi-angle filming—refinements he introduced earlier at in the 1940s—became standard practices in television news, enhancing visual clarity and dynamism while allowing reporters to operate in the field rather than studios. His philosophy of fusing with showmanship, as in the program's iconic ticking stopwatch opener, underscored profitability as a viable model for news, generating an estimated $2 billion in revenue for over decades and proving that in-depth investigations into systemic issues could yield mass audiences without relying on sensationalism alone. This economic viability encouraged modern outlets to adopt hybrid formats prioritizing viewer retention through compelling narratives, though critics like Fred Friendly argued it risked prioritizing entertainment over journalistic purity. The enduring emulation of Hewitt's methods is evident in contemporary cable and streaming , where segmented, interview-heavy segments dominate, fostering a practice of "ambush" and reporter-as-protagonist dynamics that prioritize confrontation and resolution arcs in reporting. By , 60 Minutes had influenced global broadcasts, maintaining its format's core elements amid evolving media, and Hewitt's emphasis on verifiable, context-rich stories over unadorned facts helped normalize investigative depth in an era increasingly favoring brevity, though it also amplified demands for visual drama in factual coverage.

Long-Term Evaluations of 60 Minutes' Approach

Under Don Hewitt's leadership from 1968 to 2004, pioneered a magazine-style format blending serious investigations with lighter profiles, using short 10- to 15-minute segments that mixed hard news and human-interest stories to sustain viewer engagement over decades. This approach, influenced by magazine's variety, positioned the program on nights after initial slot testing, contributing to its rise as television's top-rated show by the late 1970s and generating an estimated $2 billion in profits for through low production costs relative to high ratings. Evaluators credit this profitability model with proving news could compete commercially, resisting network budget cuts and influencing imitators like 20/20 and to adopt similar narrative-driven structures. Hewitt's core philosophy emphasized about individuals affected by events rather than abstract issues, encapsulated in his directive: "Tell me a story," which fostered competitive reporting among correspondents and techniques like on-screen text supers and direct interviews to enhance accessibility. This human-centered method enabled impactful exposés, such as the 1976 hidden-camera reveal of a kickback scheme, and sustained the program's cultural influence by making complex topics relatable without lengthy documentaries. Long-term assessments highlight how this format elevated investigative journalism's visibility, with 60 Minutes conducting whistleblowing segments on congressional and other scandals, while maintaining a balance of provocative and entertaining content that kept audiences returning. Critics, however, argue that the approach promoted through "gotcha" tactics like ambush interviews and sting operations, reducing nuanced issues to morality plays with heroes, villains, and shock value, as seen in the 1986 5000S segment that halved sales via dramatized unintended acceleration claims later contested in . Over time, this style—prioritizing dramatic packaging akin to Hollywood fiction, per Hewitt—encouraged superficiality, with segments often repackaging prior investigations into formulaic narratives rather than originating deep, resource-intensive probes, leading former producer Chuck Lewis to depart in 1989 citing editorial resistance to challenging powerful interests. The emphasis on profitability and ratings blurred with , spawning imitators that filled airtime cheaply but eroded depth, a trend Hewitt himself lamented as 60 Minutes "single-handedly ruining television" by demonstrating how slick, fast-paced content could dominate over substantive . Ultimately, while Hewitt's model transformed news into a viable economic engine and set standards for compelling profiles and exposés, long-term evaluations contend it accelerated a causal shift toward , diminishing trust in by favoring bold narratives and reporter-centric drama over comprehensive analysis, with empirical fallout in widespread emulation of profit-driven shortcuts across broadcast media. This legacy persists in modern polarized coverage, where entertainment incentives often overshadow rigorous fact-finding.

Awards and Honors

Professional Recognitions

Hewitt received eight from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences over his career, recognizing his production work on broadcasts and . These included a Founders Emmy for lifetime achievement in television news production. In 1987, he was awarded the Paul White Award by the Radio Television Digital News Association for his contributions to . The following year, 1988, Hewitt earned a personal Peabody Award, cited for influencing the production and direction of major events over four decades and touching the lives of nearly every American through his innovations. That same year, he received the gold medal from the International Radio and Television Society. Hewitt was inducted into the & Cable Hall of Fame in 1989. He also received the for excellence in and the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University , both honoring his leadership in television news. In 1980, he was named Broadcaster of the Year. Additionally, in 2008, he was given the for his overall impact on broadcast news. Hewitt's induction into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1991 further acknowledged his pioneering role in the medium.

Posthumous Tributes

Following Hewitt's death on August 19, 2009, organized a memorial service on October 19, 2009, at the Time Warner Center in , attended by colleagues including , , and executives such as Leslie Moonves and . Speakers included , who compared Hewitt to pioneers like and for revolutionizing television news; Safer, who recounted Hewitt's rapid idea-generation process using "blue sheets"; and Moonves, who noted Hewitt's habit of sharing story pitches with everyone from security staff to janitors. The event, intended to last in homage to Hewitt's signature program, extended to 75 minutes due to the volume of anecdotes shared. That same year, broadcast a dedicated tribute episode titled "Remembering Don Hewitt," featuring reflections from correspondents on his creation of the show's investigative format and its impact on . Contributors such as Safer and Wallace highlighted Hewitt's insistence on "tell me a story" as the core of compelling reporting, crediting him with transforming news into entertainment without sacrificing substance. These tributes underscored Hewitt's role in elevating television news viewership, with achieving over 20 seasons as the top-rated primetime program under his guidance until 2004. No formal posthumous awards were conferred, though Hewitt's pre-death honors, including multiple Emmys and a 2008 Award, were frequently invoked in these remembrances to affirm his enduring influence.

Personal Life and Death

Marriages and Family

Hewitt was married three times. His first wife was Mary Weaver, whom he met while working as a night editor for the in ; the couple had two sons, Jeffrey and Steven. Weaver predeceased him in the early 1960s. After approximately 17 years of marriage to Weaver, Hewitt divorced and wed Frankie Childers (professionally known as Frankie Hewitt), a , in 1963; the union produced two daughters, Lisa and Jilian (also spelled Jill), and ended in divorce in 1974. Childers, who had previously been married to , died in 2003. Hewitt's third marriage, to Marilyn Berger—a former White House correspondent and New York Times contributor—took place on April 14, 1979, and lasted until his death; the couple had no children. Berger survived him.

Health Issues and Death

In March 2009, Hewitt was diagnosed with after doctors discovered a small, contained tumor. He underwent treatment for the condition in the ensuing months. Hewitt died on August 19, 2009, at the age of 86, from at his home in , surrounded by family.

References

  1. https://www.cbsnews.com/team/don-hewitt/
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  3. https://www.cjr.org/behind_the_news/remembering_don_hewitt.php
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  8. https://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.ssf/2009/08/60_minutes_creator_don_hewitt.html
  9. https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/1027582%257C0/Don-Hewitt
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  12. https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/don-hewitt-on-his-judaism
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  22. https://www.historyofinformation.com/detail.php?entryid=4716
  23. https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/news/saw-it-then-murrows-see-it-now-turns-60
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  50. https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2006/10/marilyn-berger-hewitt-and-don-hewitt-speak-about-their-careers
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  57. https://kids.kiddle.co/Don_Hewitt
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  64. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2003/03/01/frankie-hewitt-dies-at-71/aa9f2a5f-ec6b-4049-b322-96bfc29dd034/
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  66. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/don-hewitt-battles-cancer/
  67. https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/2009-08-19-60-minutes-creator-don-hewitt-dies-of-cancer-at-age-86.html
  68. https://www.cnn.com/2009/US/08/19/hewitt.obit/index.html
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