Morley Safer

Morley Safer
Name	Morley Safer
Birth date	November 8, 1931
Birth place	Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Death date	May 19, 2016
Death place	New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Journalist, Correspondent, Reporter
Years active	1957–2016
Employer	CBS News
Notable works	"1968 Vietnam report", 60 Minutes reports
Awards	Peabody Awards, Emmys

Morley Safer (November 8, 1931 – May 19, 2016) was a Canadian-born journalist and long-serving correspondent for CBS News best known for his work on the television newsmagazine 60 Minutes. Over a career spanning more than five decades he reported on conflicts, politics, culture, and social issues, bringing attention to events such as the Vietnam War, the Watergate scandal, and international crises across Europe, Asia, and Africa. Safer's reporting style combined narrative storytelling with on-the-ground eyewitness coverage, earning him numerous journalism awards and a reputation as a defining voice in broadcast journalism.

Early life and education

Safer was born in Toronto to Jewish parents of Eastern European descent and grew up in the Toronto area. He attended Upper Canada College before enrolling at the University of Western Ontario, where he studied English and journalism. After graduating, he began his early professional life in Canada working for the Toronto Star and later moved to London to pursue opportunities in print and radio, including stints at The Globe and Mail and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), where he developed skills that would shape his broadcast career.

Journalism career

Safer began his international journalism career in London as a correspondent for BBC television and radio, covering events across Europe and the Middle East, and later joined Time Inc. publications as a correspondent. In 1964 he moved to the United States and joined CBS News as a correspondent, covering presidential politics including the administrations of Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, and subsequent presidents. In 1970 he became a correspondent for 60 Minutes, the newsmagazine created by Don Hewitt, where he produced and reported investigative pieces, profiles, and war reporting for decades. Safer covered a wide array of subjects for 60 Minutes, reporting from scenes involving the Vietnam War, the Iranian Revolution, the Cuba aftermath, and numerous U.S. political events, making him a prominent figure alongside colleagues such as Mike Wallace, Ed Bradley, and Andy Rooney.

Notable reports and controversies

Safer's 1968 reporting from the Vietnam War included a notable report that challenged official narratives about the conflict and helped shape public perception. His coverage often focused on the human cost of war and political decisions, exemplified by reports from Saigon, Hanoi, and refugee centers across Southeast Asia. In 1980 Safer's segment on the environmental and health effects of nuclear testing and weapons programs drew attention to agencies like the Department of Energy and prompted debate among policymakers and scientists. He also reported on the Watergate scandal’s aftermath and profiled political figures such as Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, and Ronald Reagan.

Several of Safer's reports produced controversy. His 1993 report on Japanese attitudes toward wartime conduct provoked diplomatic discussions between Japan and South Korea, and his reporting on sensitive international issues occasionally elicited criticism from governments and interest groups, including disputes involving Israel, PLO factions, and NATO-related policies. Domestically, some segments criticizing corporate Wall Street practices and industrial leaders attracted pushback from business interests and led to contentious exchanges with executives and public figures. Safer's straightforward questioning and narrative framing sometimes made him a target of political criticism from conservative commentators and administration officials during coverage of presidential administrations and major investigations such as Watergate and later inquiries.

Awards and recognition

Throughout his career Safer received multiple honors, including several Emmy Awards and Peabody Awards for investigative journalism and feature reporting. He was awarded the Edward R. Murrow Award and recognized by institutions such as the National Press Club and the Radio Television Digital News Association. Safer's work on 60 Minutes earned program-wide recognition, and he was frequently honored by journalism schools including the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and the University of Missouri School of Journalism for lifetime achievement and contributions to broadcast reporting.

Personal life and death

Safer married twice; his first marriage was to Jane Fearer, with whom he had children, and later he married Valerie (Valerie Safer), maintaining residences in New Canaan, Connecticut and New York City. He became a naturalized citizen of the United States after emigrating from Canada. Safer enjoyed photography, literature, and cultural institutions such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the New York Public Library, and he lectured at universities and journalism forums worldwide.

Safer retired from full-time reporting in 2016 after more than four decades on 60 Minutes. He died on May 19, 2016, in New York City from complications of pneumonia at age 84. His death prompted tributes from colleagues at CBS News, fellow journalists at outlets including The New York Times and The Washington Post, and public figures who noted his influence on television journalism.

Category:Journalists Category:Canadian emigrants to the United States