Steve Kroft

Steve Kroft
Name	Stephen B. Kroft
Birth date	22 August 1945
Birth place	Philadelphia
Occupation	Journalist
Years active	1960s–2019
Employer	CBS News
Spouse	Betsy Kroft

Steve Kroft was an American broadcast journalist and correspondent known for long-form investigative reporting and interviews on 60 Minutes. Over a career spanning print and television, he reported on political figures, corporate leaders, and international crises, blending narrative profile and investigative inquiry. He became a prominent voice in American television news during the late 20th and early 21st centuries, frequently appearing alongside peers at CBS News, contributing to major stories involving presidents, CEOs, and global events.

Early life and education

Born in Philadelphia and raised in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Kroft attended Fallston High School before matriculating at Yale University, where he studied history, participating in campus publications that connected him to networks leading into New Haven journalism circles. He later earned a master's degree from Columbia University School of Journalism, aligning him with alumni who entered outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Time.

Career

Kroft began his career in print at Newsweek, covering stories that intersected with figures from Watergate scandal–era politics and policy debates involving members of United States Congress. He transitioned to television at ABC News and later at CBS News, joining a cadre of correspondents that included Mike Wallace, Morley Safer, Ed Bradley, Dan Rather, and Harry Smith. At 60 Minutes, he produced and reported pieces that engaged with subjects such as White House administrations, Federal Bureau of Investigation, major corporate boards including Enron and WorldCom, and international crises involving leaders from Russia, Iraq, and Haiti. His reporting style merged investigative techniques used by reporters at ProPublica and The New Yorker with broadcast practices established at NBC News and ABC News. He collaborated with producers from 60 Minutes II and worked under executives including Les Moonves and news directors who had ties to CBS corporate leadership.

Notable reports and interviews

Kroft conducted in-depth interviews with prominent figures such as George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Donald Trump, Barack Obama, Henry Kissinger, Jeffrey Skilling, Ken Lay, Larry King, and Pope Francis in formats that blended profile and accountability. His segments probed subjects linked to September 11 attacks, the Iraq War, corporate scandals at Enron and WorldCom, and financial crises involving Lehman Brothers and Goldman Sachs. He reported on national security issues tied to Central Intelligence Agency, energy stories intersecting with ExxonMobil and Royal Dutch Shell, and international diplomacy including the Iran nuclear deal. His investigations often referenced regulatory agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission and judicial proceedings in venues like the United States Supreme Court and federal district courts. Kroft's interviews and reports were frequently discussed in outlets like The Washington Post, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and The Wall Street Journal.

Awards and recognition

Kroft received multiple awards during his career, including prizes associated with the Peabody Awards, Emmy Awards, Edward R. Murrow Awards, and honors from journalism organizations such as the Online News Association and the Society of Professional Journalists. His work contributed to 60 Minutes receiving ensemble accolades from entities like the Columbia Broadcasting System affiliates and broadcasting industry groups. He was also recognized by academic institutions including Yale University and Columbia University for contributions to journalism and media studies.

Personal life and health

Kroft married Betsy and resided in the New York metropolitan area and maintained connections to Connecticut communities. He underwent treatment for health challenges later in life, including therapies related to prostate cancer and complications that affected his professional schedule; his health was occasionally discussed in profiles in People (magazine), The New York Times, and TIME (magazine). He announced reduced reporting duties before retiring from full-time work at CBS News.

Legacy and impact

Kroft's legacy includes shaping televised investigative journalism alongside peers from 60 Minutes and influencing subsequent generations of correspondents at outlets such as CBS News, NBC News, ABC News, MSNBC, and cable networks like CNN. His interviews and investigative pieces are cited in academic analyses at institutions including Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, Harvard Kennedy School, and media studies centers that examine the evolution of reporting on presidents, corporations, and international crises. His approach contributed to standards employed in longitudinal reporting seen in programs like Frontline and long-form features in publications such as The Atlantic and Vanity Fair.

Category:American journalists Category:American television reporters and correspondents Category:CBS News people