About Jeff Fager
_{Former Executive Producer, 60 MINUTES and Former Chairman, CBS News}

Jeff Fager devoted nearly four decades to CBS News, rising from early newsroom positions to executive producer of 60 Minutes and, later, chairman of the division. Jeff is widely recognized for his steady role at 60 Minutes and for helping guide CBS News through changes in both traditional broadcasting and digital media.

Jeff began his work in television news in the late 1970s after graduating from Colgate University with a degree in English literature. He started at a CBS affiliate in Boston, where he handled duties as a production assistant, writer, and assignment editor. He later moved to KPIX-TV in San Francisco, where he worked as a broadcast producer. In the early 1980s, he contributed to CBS News programs such as the weekend CBS Evening News and Nightwatch. He then took on international assignments and worked from London, producing coverage of major global events, including conflicts in the Middle East, the 1986 U.S. airstrike on Libya, and meetings between Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev.

Jeff later helped launch 48 Hours before joining 60 Minutes as a producer. During that period, he worked on a range of stories with correspondents like Morley Safer and Steve Kroft. In the 1990s, he moved into senior production roles at the CBS Evening News, contributing to coverage of major international stories such as the war in Bosnia and the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. His work during this time contributed to a Peabody Award.

Jeff served as executive producer of the CBS Evening News with Dan Rather from 1996 to 1998, during which he focused on strengthening reporting and expanding international coverage. This approach helped grow the program’s audience. He later led 60 Minutes II and then became executive producer of 60 Minutes, serving for 14 seasons. His work emphasized clear storytelling and timely reporting while maintaining the program’s established standards, and the broadcast received numerous major journalism awards during his tenure.

In 2011, Jeff was appointed chairman of CBS News while continuing his role with 60 Minutes. He supported the relaunch of CBS This Morning with a stronger focus on hard news and contributed to changes at the CBS Evening News. He also encouraged digital expansion through updates to the 60 Minutes website, partnerships with online platforms, and the launch of 60 Minutes Overtime. Jeff Fager remained focused on long-form reporting and continued to shape how news content reached audiences across platforms.

Jeff Fager on Breakermedia.com: https://www.breakermedia.com/p/jeff-fager-on-bari-weiss-cbs-news-60-minutes-david-ellison