Don Hewitt
Donald Shepard Hewitt (December 14, 1922 – August 19, 2009) was an American television news producer and journalist. He is best known for creating the television news magazine 60 Minutes, which became one of the most successful and longest-running programs in the history of television.
Early life
Hewitt was born in New York City to a Jewish family. He attended New York University, though he left before graduating. He began his journalism career as a copy boy for the New York Herald Tribune in the 1940s.
Career
Hewitt's early career in journalism was interrupted by World War II, during which he served in the United States Merchant Marine and later with the U.S. Army Air Forces. After the war, he joined CBS News as a producer.
In 1968, Hewitt created 60 Minutes, which debuted on September 24 of that year. The show was a groundbreaking format for television journalism, offering in-depth reporting on various issues, from politics to crime to human interest stories. Under Hewitt's leadership, 60 Minutes became the first news program to top the ratings during a television season.
Legacy
Hewitt's contribution to journalism was recognized with numerous awards, including several Peabody Awards, Emmy Awards, and the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award for Lifetime Achievement in Broadcast Journalism.
Personal life
Hewitt was married to Frankie Hewitt from 1979 until his death in 2009. He had four children from his marriages. Hewitt passed away on August 19, 2009, at his home in Bridgehampton, New York, from pancreatic cancer.
References
Hewitt, Don (2001). Tick...Tick...Tick...: The Long Life and Turbulent Times of 60 Minutes. PublicAffairs. ISBN 1-58648-047-6.
- "Don Hewitt, Creator of ‘60 Minutes,’ Dies", The New York Times, August 19, 2009.