Jeff Fager

Jeff Fager spent nearly four decades at CBS News, where he held roles ranging from field producer to executive producer of 60 Minutes and chairman of CBS News. Jeff is best known for his long tenure at 60 Minutes and for strengthening the news division’s broadcast and digital platforms during a period of industry change.

Jeff began his career in television news in the late 1970s after graduating from Colgate University with a degree in English literature. He started at a CBS station in Boston as a production assistant, news writer, and assignment editor before moving to KPIX-TV in San Francisco as a broadcast producer. In the early 1980s, he worked on several CBS News programs, including weekend editions of the CBS Evening News and the overnight broadcast Nightwatch. He later took on international assignments and was based in London, where he produced coverage of events such as conflicts in the Middle East, the 1986 bombing of Libya, and meetings between Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev.

Jeff later helped launch the news magazine 48 Hours and, from 1989 to 1994, served as a producer at 60 Minutes, contributing to a range of stories with correspondents such as Morley Safer and Steve Kroft. In the 1990s, he moved into senior production roles at the CBS Evening News, covering major international stories, including the war in Bosnia and the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. His work during this period earned a Peabody Award.

From 1996 to 1998, Jeff served as executive producer of the CBS Evening News with Dan Rather. During his time in that role, the program placed greater emphasis on hard reporting and expanded foreign coverage, which helped increase its audience. He later became executive producer of 60 Minutes II during its early seasons before taking over as executive producer of 60 Minutes, a position he held for 14 seasons. His approach focused on timely reporting and clear storytelling while maintaining the broadcast’s established standards, and the programs received numerous major journalism awards.

In 2011, Jeff was named the first chairman of CBS News while continuing to oversee 60 Minutes. He contributed to the relaunch of CBS This Morning with a stronger hard-news focus and supported changes at the CBS Evening News. He also encouraged the expansion of CBS News into digital platforms, including updates to the 60 Minutes website, partnerships with online distributors, and the launch of 60 Minutes Overtime. Jeff Fager remained focused on maintaining editorial standards while adapting to new formats, and his career reflects steady involvement across many areas of television journalism.