Donald Shepard Hewitt, an American television news producer and executive, is best known as the creator of the CBS television news magazine "60 Minutes" in 1968. His career at CBS News began in 1948, where he quickly made a name for himself, initially working as a producer-director for the network's evening news broadcast with Douglas Edwards for 14 years. Hewitt's innovative approach to television news was evident early on; he was the first director of "See
It Now," co-produced by Edward R. Murrow and Fred W. Friendly, which started in 1951. During this time, Hewitt's influential use of two film projectors, cutting back and forth, helped break up the monotony of a single talking head, improved editing, and shaped the future of news broadcasts. His keen eye for capturing pivotal moments was highlighted in 1956 when he was the only one to film the final moments of the SS Andrea Doria as it sank.
Hewitt's impact extended beyond news segments. He directed the televised production of the first-ever presidential candidate debate between Senator John F. Kennedy and Vice-president Richard M. Nixon on September 26, 1960, at the CBS studios in Chicago. Later, he became the executive producer of the "CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite" and produced the broadcast covering John F. Kennedy's assassination as the story unfolded. These experiences laid the groundwork for his most significant creation, "60 Minutes."
The Conception and Early Years of 60 Minutes
The concept for "60 Minutes" emerged during a period of "boredom" for Hewitt. In 1965, Fred Friendly, who had become the president of CBS, demoted Hewitt from his executive producer role without firing him. It was during this time that Hewitt conceived the idea for a news magazine show. Launched in 1968, "60 Minutes" was inspired by magazines and cinema, with Hewitt openly admitting he "stole this programme lock, stock and barrel, from Life magazine." He envisioned a mix of serious and lighthearted news stories, a format that would prove incredibly successful.
Under Hewitt's leadership as creator and executive producer, "60 Minutes" quickly gained traction. Within ten years, the show had reached the top 10 in viewership, a position it maintained for 21 of the following 22 seasons, until the 1999–2000 season. This unprecedented success for a news program in prime time solidified Hewitt's reputation as a visionary. The show's ability to blend in-depth investigative journalism with compelling storytelling resonated with audiences, making it a cultural phenomenon and a significant profit generator for CBS.
Controversies and Later Career
Despite his many successes, Hewitt's career was not without controversy. He was a primary figure in the televising of a 1996 "60 Minutes" documentary concerning the tobacco industry scandal involving Brown & Williamson. Initially, Hewitt sided with CBS News management and censored an interview with whistleblower Jeffrey Wigand due to concerns about a lawsuit. After significant public outcry, a more complete presentation of the story was eventually aired, though the handling of the issue was later described as "a dark, sorry period in the otherwise virtuous life of 60 Minutes." This incident was later dramatized in the 1999 film "The Insider," where Hewitt was portrayed by Philip Baker Hall.
Declining ratings for "60 Minutes" in the early 2000s, after decades in the top 10, led to public debate about whether it was time for CBS to replace Hewitt. By 2002, the show had dropped to number 20 in the rankings. Although still generating an estimated profit of over $20 million annually, the decline in viewership and profit suggested that the show could no longer operate as an independent entity, demanding high salaries and perks while disregarding management. At the age of 81, Hewitt stepped aside as executive producer, signing a 10-year contract with CBS to serve as an executive producer-at-large for CBS News. In 2010, "60 Minutes" dedicated an entire show to his story and memory. However, a 2018 internal CBS investigation uncovered accusations from the 1990s that Hewitt had repeatedly sexually assaulted a former CBS employee, leading to multiple settlement payments totaling over $5 million in exchange for her silence.
