Steve Kroft

Steve Kroft is an American broadcast journalist best known for his long tenure as a correspondent and co-editor for the acclaimed CBS News program 60 Minutes. Joining the broadcast in 1989, he became one of its most recognizable figures, conducting high-profile interviews and investigative reports for three decades. His distinguished career is marked by numerous accolades, including multiple Peabody Awards and Emmy Awards, cementing his reputation as a pillar of American television journalism.

Early Life and Education

Steve Kroft was born in Kokomo, Indiana, and developed an early interest in current events. He pursued his higher education at Syracuse University, where he majored in communications and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree. During his time at university, he worked for the campus radio station, WAER, gaining foundational experience in broadcast journalism. This period solidified his ambition to enter the field of news reporting, setting the stage for his future career with major networks.

Career

Kroft began his professional journalism career in 1970 as a reporter for WSYR-TV in Syracuse, New York. He later worked as a correspondent for WBBM-TV, the CBS owned-and-operated station in Chicago, covering significant local stories. In 1980, he joined the national CBS News division in New York City, initially serving as a correspondent for the CBS Evening News. His major breakthrough came in 1989 when he was named a correspondent for the network's flagship news magazine, 60 Minutes, eventually becoming a co-editor. During his tenure, he reported from global hotspots like the Persian Gulf War and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and conducted landmark interviews with figures such as Barack Obama and Mikhail Gorbachev.

Notable Works

Throughout his career at 60 Minutes, Kroft was responsible for a wide array of impactful investigative reports and exclusive interviews. He secured a notable early interview with then-presidential candidate Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama in 2008. His investigative piece on the Penn State University child sex abuse scandal involving Jerry Sandusky was widely praised. Other significant reports included an exposé on the SWAT team practices across the United States and a profile of the controversial pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli. His interview with two National Security Agency whistleblowers, William Binney and J. Kirk Wiebe, provided early insight into U.S. surveillance programs.

Awards and Recognition

Steve Kroft's body of work has been honored with some of journalism's most prestigious awards. He has received several Peabody Awards for his reporting, including one for a report on the Mississippi River flood of 1993. He is also a multiple Emmy Award winner, with accolades for both investigative reporting and interviews. In 2003, he was part of the 60 Minutes team that won an Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award for coverage of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021). His contributions to the field have been recognized by institutions like the Radio Television Digital News Association.

Personal Life

Kroft married author Jennet Conant in 1987, and the couple has one son. He has maintained a relatively private personal life, focusing public attention on his professional work. Following his retirement from 60 Minutes in 2019 after 30 seasons, he has stepped back from the public eye. He resides primarily in New York City, with a second home in the Hamptons on Long Island.

Category:American television journalists Category:60 Minutes correspondents Category:Peabody Award winners Category:Syracuse University alumni Category:1945 births Category:Living people