Jeff Fager

Jeff Fager
Name	Jeff Fager
Birth date	10 February 1954
Birth place	Morristown, New Jersey
Occupation	Television producer, executive
Years active	1978–2018
Employer	CBS
Notable works	60 Minutes

Jeff Fager (born February 10, 1954) is an American television producer and former television executive best known for his role as executive producer of 60 Minutes and chairman of CBS News. He worked at CBS News for decades, overseeing flagship programs and contributing to coverage of major events such as U.S. presidential elections, international conflicts, and technological developments. Fager’s tenure intersected with numerous prominent journalists and producers and ended amid high-profile workplace investigations.

Early life and education

Fager was born in Morristown, New Jersey and raised in the Northeast United States region. He attended Phillips Academy before matriculating at Yale University, where he studied and participated in campus media activities. After Yale, he pursued graduate studies at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and began internships and early career placements at regional and national news outlets. His early mentors and colleagues included producers and journalists connected to institutions such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, NBC News, ABC News, and The Boston Globe.

Career

Fager’s early professional experience included roles at local stations and network affiliates, moving through assignments at organizations associated with figures from Edward R. Murrow’s lineage and veterans of the Watergate scandal. He joined CBS News and worked on programs tied to investigative teams influenced by producers from 60 Minutes II and newsmagazines at ABC News and NBC News. Rising through editorial ranks, he collaborated with correspondents and editors who had professional relationships with journalists from The Wall Street Journal, Time, Newsweek, The New Yorker, and Vanity Fair.

He produced and supervised coverage of events involving leaders like Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump, as well as international figures such as Vladimir Putin, Nelson Mandela, Aung San Suu Kyi, and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. His production teams reported from major locations tied to conflicts and diplomacy, including Baghdad, Beirut, Jerusalem, Moscow, Beijing, London, and Paris. Fager interacted professionally with producers experienced in reporting on crises like the Iraq War (2003–2011), the Bosnian War, the Syrian Civil War, and the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.

Role at CBS News and 60 Minutes

Fager served as executive producer of 60 Minutes from the late 1990s into the 2010s and later became chairman of CBS News. In that capacity he oversaw program development, editorial standards, talent management, and investigative projects working alongside correspondents such as Anderson Cooper, Lester Holt, Norah O'Donnell, Scott Pelley, and Lesley Stahl. Under his leadership, teams competed with newsmagazines like Dateline NBC, 20/20, and international programs on networks including BBC News, ITV, and Al Jazeera. Fager guided high-profile reports that earned recognition from organizations such as the Peabody Awards, the Emmy Awards, and the George Polk Awards, and he managed investigative collaborations with outlets like ProPublica and Reuters.

He played a central role in coverage of multiple U.S. presidential campaigns and conventions involving the Democratic National Convention and the Republican National Convention, coordinating correspondents and producers in partnership with bureaus in cities such as New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and Chicago. Fager also influenced digital strategy during the rise of platforms including YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and streaming efforts from legacy broadcasters and digital-first publishers.

Controversies and investigations

Fager’s tenure drew scrutiny over editorial decisions and workplace conduct. He was involved in internal disputes at CBS Corporation and faced investigations linked to allegations of inappropriate behavior and management practices. The company’s board and human resources teams conducted inquiries amid wider media industry reckonings connected to the Me Too movement. High-profile departures and settlements at CBS News during this period prompted congressional and industry conversations involving figures from The New York Times Company, The Washington Post Company, ViacomCBS, Disney–ABC Television Group, and other major media conglomerates.

Investigations referenced coverage and personnel matters relating to journalistic ethics cases analogous to episodes involving publications such as The New Yorker and broadcasts from Fox News; they also prompted discussions with law firms and human resources consultancies experienced with cases involving executives at Harvey Weinstein-era investigations and corporate governance reviews. Following the inquiries, organizational changes occurred at CBS that reshaped leadership and reporting structures among programs including 60 Minutes Overtime and affiliates in local markets.

Personal life and philanthropy

Fager is married and has family ties in the United States. He has supported cultural and educational institutions similar to those associated with media professionals, including universities, journalism schools, arts organizations, and health-related charities. His philanthropic interests reflect connections to boards and fundraising efforts often linked to institutions such as Yale University, Columbia University, regional museums, and public broadcasting support groups. He has participated in speaking engagements and panels alongside journalists and media executives from outlets like NPR, PBS, CNN, and international media organizations.

Category:Living people Category:1954 births Category:American television producers Category:CBS News people