Jeff Fager

Jeff Fager is an American television producer and former news executive best known for his long tenure at CBS News. He served as the executive producer of the iconic news magazine 60 Minutes from 2004 to 2018, a period during which the program won numerous Emmy Awards and Peabody Awards. Fager later became the chairman of CBS News, overseeing all of the division's broadcasts before his departure from the network in 2018 following allegations regarding workplace behavior.

Early Life and Education

Jeff Fager was born in Quincy, Massachusetts, and grew up in the nearby town of Cohasset, Massachusetts. He developed an early interest in journalism and media. For his higher education, he attended Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. During his time at university, he was involved with the campus radio station, further cultivating his passion for broadcast journalism.

Career

Fager began his professional career at CBS News in 1982 as a desk assistant, quickly rising through the ranks. He worked on major programs like the CBS Evening News and served as a producer for anchor Dan Rather. His significant breakthrough came when he joined 60 Minutes as a producer in the late 1980s, working on stories with correspondents such as Mike Wallace and Ed Bradley. In 2000, he was appointed the executive producer of CBS Evening News before returning to 60 Minutes in that same role in 2004, succeeding Don Hewitt, the program's creator. Under his leadership, 60 Minutes maintained its status as a top-rated broadcast and expanded its digital presence. In 2011, he was named chairman of CBS News, adding oversight of programs like Face the Nation and CBS This Morning to his responsibilities while continuing to run 60 Minutes.

Notable Works

As executive producer of 60 Minutes, Fager oversaw the production of many landmark investigative reports and interviews. Notable segments during his tenure included an interview with former U.S. President Barack Obama, a major investigation into the National Security Agency surveillance programs, and a profile of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. He also supervised the program's coverage of major global events, including the war in Afghanistan and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Fager was instrumental in launching 60 Minutes Sports on the Showtime network and expanding the brand with the successful digital series 60 Minutes Overtime.

Awards and Recognition

Throughout his career, Jeff Fager has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards in broadcast journalism. Under his stewardship, 60 Minutes won multiple Emmy Awards, including several for Outstanding News Magazine. The program also received Peabody Awards and duPont-Columbia Awards for its investigative work. Fager himself was honored with the Edward R. Murrow Award for lifetime achievement from the Radio Television Digital News Association. In 2015, he was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame.

Personal Life

Jeff Fager is married to Virginia Fager, and the couple has three children. They have maintained a relatively private family life, residing primarily in the New York metropolitan area. Outside of his professional work, Fager is known to be an avid sailor and has participated in sailing events around New England. Following his departure from CBS, he has kept a low public profile.

Category:American television producers Category:CBS News people Category:Colgate University alumni Category:1954 births Category:Living people