60 Minutes

60 Minutes. It is an American television news magazine program that has been broadcast on the CBS television network since September 1968. Created by veteran producer Don Hewitt, the program pioneered a distinctive magazine-style format of in-depth investigative reporting, interviews, and feature segments. It is one of the longest-running and most successful programs in American television history, having won numerous Peabody Awards and Emmy Awards for its journalism.

History and background

The program was conceived by Don Hewitt, who had previously directed the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite and produced the Kennedy–Nixon debates. Hewitt sought to create a television equivalent of a weekly news magazine like *Time* or *Life*, utilizing the visual power of the medium. Its debut on September 24, 1968, featured reports from correspondents Harry Reasoner and Mike Wallace. Initially airing bi-weekly, it struggled in the ratings until a move to Sunday evenings in 1975 proved pivotal. This scheduling shift, following the popular *NFL on CBS* games, provided a large lead-in audience and cemented its place in the network's lineup. The program's success through the 1970s and 1980s, during the tenure of CBS executives like William S. Paley and Frank Stanton, made it a cornerstone of the network's news division and a massive profit center, influencing the creation of similar programs like ABC's *20/20* and NBC's *Dateline NBC*.

Format and structure

The program is renowned for its consistent, easily recognizable format. A typical episode features three long-form segments, each usually focusing on a single topic, introduced by the ticking stopwatch of its iconic theme music. Segments alternate between hard-hitting investigative pieces, celebrity or newsmaker interviews, and human-interest profiles. The style is characterized by a correspondent narrating and conducting interviews, often employing a confrontational, prosecutorial approach popularized by Mike Wallace. The final segment is frequently a lighter commentary piece, historically delivered by Andy Rooney. The program's visual signature includes the "magazine cover" introduction of each story and the use of the "Person of the Week" style close-up shot of the correspondent.

Notable segments and impact

Over decades, the program has broken major stories and conducted landmark interviews that have entered the national consciousness. Its investigative work has exposed corporate malfeasance, government corruption, and international scandals. Notable interviews include a 1995 sit-down with Bill Clinton during the Whitewater controversy, a 1992 conversation with Barbra Streisand, and a famous 1979 profile of Vladimir Horowitz. A 2004 report on the Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse scandal, featuring an interview with Specialist Joseph Darby, was particularly impactful. Its confrontational style has sometimes sparked controversy, as in a 1995 interview with Jeffrey Wigand, a tobacco industry whistleblower, which led to a legal battle with Brown & Williamson.

Production and staff

The program is produced by CBS News and maintains a relatively small team of correspondents and producers who work on stories for extended periods, often months. Don Hewitt served as executive producer until 2004, when he was succeeded by Jeff Fager. The correspondent roster has included some of the most famous names in broadcast journalism, forming a core group often called the "Murderers' Row." This lineage runs from founding figures like Mike Wallace and Morley Safer to later stalwarts such as Ed Bradley, Lesley Stahl, and Steve Kroft. Current correspondents include Scott Pelley, Bill Whitaker, and Norah O'Donnell. Producers, including Philip Scheffler and Michael Gavshon, are integral to the deep research and filming process.

Ratings and reception

The program has been a dominant force in television ratings for most of its history, frequently ranking as the top-rated weekly program and the highest-rated news magazine. It has been the number-one program on Sunday nights for decades, a streak largely unmatched in television. This success has translated into significant advertising revenue for CBS. Critically, it has amassed over 150 Emmy Awards and numerous Peabody Awards for its journalism. However, it has also faced criticism over the years for perceived sensationalism, ideological bias, or ethical lapses in certain reporting methods, though its reputation for substantive reporting remains largely intact.

Cultural influence and legacy

The program's influence on television journalism and American culture is profound. It demonstrated that in-depth, serious journalism could achieve mass popularity and commercial success. Its format has been emulated worldwide, and its correspondents became household names, symbolizing investigative rigor. The program has been parodied and referenced across popular culture, from sketches on Saturday Night Live to mentions in films like *The Insider*. It has served as a career launchpad for journalists like Anderson Cooper and Lara Logan. As one of the last remaining long-form network news programs, its endurance is seen as a testament to the public's appetite for detailed storytelling and accountability journalism.