Susan Zirinsky Explained

Susan Zirinsky
Birth Date:3 March 1952
Birth Place:New York City, U.S.
Occupation:Journalist, producer, executive
Employer:CBS
President See It Now Studios (2021–present)
President and Senior Executive Producer of CBS News (2019–2021)
Senior Executive Producer, 48 Hours (1996–2019)
Alma Mater:American University
Children:1
Awards:Two Peabody Awards
First Amendment Service
News & Documentary Emmy
Christopher Award
Edward R. Murrow

Susan Zirinsky (born March 3, 1952) is an American journalist and television news producer. She served as the President of CBS News from January 2019 until April 2021, when she was succeeded by Neeraj Khemlani and Wendy McMahon.[1] She previously served as executive producer of 48 Hours from 1996 to 2019. In 2003, she won a Primetime Emmy Award as producer of the documentary 9/11, which aired on CBS in 2002.[2]

In 2013, Zirinsky was given the Lifetime Achievement Award by the International Television & Film Awards.[3]

As CBS News President and Senior Executive Producer, Zirinsky was responsible for CBS News broadcasts and the division's newsgathering across all platforms including television, CBS News Radio, CBSNews.com and CBSN.[4] [5] Zirinsky is the first female President and Senior Executive Producer of CBS News.[6] [7]

Personal life

Zirinsky was born in New York City and raised in Neponsit, Queens, the daughter of Cynthia (née Finkelstein) and Richard Zirinsky (1915–2002). Her sister, Barbara Zirinsky Faden, died in 1999 at age 50 of cancer.[8] Her mother founded Gracie Square Hospital in New York City and works as a mental health care professional.[9] Her father was a New York City real-estate developer.[10] [11] Named after her parents for their philanthropy, the Richard and Cynthia Zirinsky Center for Bipolar Disorder is located at Mount Sinai Beth Israel. She married Joseph Peyronnin in 1984. Peyronnin is also a journalist and has won an Emmy Award. The couple covered the Tiananmen Square Massacre. In 1996 they adopted a baby girl from China, naming her Zoe.[12] [13]

Zirinsky graduated from the School of Communications at American University in Washington, D.C., and made a career in television journalism.[14] In 2009, she delivered the 123rd Commencement Address, School of Communication at American University.[15]

Career at CBS

Zirinsky, then a 20-year-old sophomore at American University, joined the CBS News Washington Bureau in 1972. She worked as a weekend production clerk. In her senior year, she helped write stories about the Watergate Scandal. She continued working in various roles for CBS after graduation.

Zirinsky was assigned to cover the White House for CBS, which she did for over a decade. During this time she worked with Marcy McGinnis and Lesley Stahl, who became her mentor. She has also specialized in covering political campaigns and war assignments. She went with Dan Rather to Kuwait during the Gulf War, where she produced the news, and Rather reported live from Kuwait City.

Zirinsky was the senior executive producer of '48 Hours'. She also produces breaking news specials for CBS News. Her frequent collaborators include Bob Schieffer.[16] [17] [18] Her nickname in the newsroom is "Z".[19] [20]

On March 1, 2019, Zirinsky became the first female President and Senior Executive Producer of CBS News, replacing David Rhodes.[21] Rhodes will step down as president of CBS News amid falling ratings and the fallout from revelations from an investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against CBS News figures, Rhodes and the CBS network said.[22] She was first offered the position in 2011, however she turned the job down because it would have taken her away from the work she loves, which is producing.

Zirinsky is described as a media icon,[23] legendary,[24] and trail-blazing.[25] She is the second woman to be appointed head of a broadcast news network. After Zirinsky was named president and senior executive producer of CBS News, employees said the mood was upbeat and hoped the appointment would boost morale after a scandal-plagued year.[26] Zirinsky takes her assignment when CBS' longtime chief Les Moonves was forced out following a series of reports accusing him of sexual harassment.[27] [28] [29] Charlie Rose was fired because of the same revelations[30] [31] and Jeff Fager, chief of 60 Minutes, was also forced out during Rose's departure.[32] [33]

The New York Times reported the employees at CBS greeted Zirinsky with a "roaring ovation."[34] Gayle King, co-anchor, CBS This Morning, was quoted as saying, "I was doing the happy dance. ... She is a badass in every sense of the word."

The profession lacks female executives. In 167 years, The New York Times has had one female, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal are at zero. NBC News and Fox News have each had one female news executive and USA Today has had three female top editors, including the current Editor in Chief Nicole Carroll. On January 10, 2019, Showtime announced changes in the wake of Moonves being ousted at CBS. Jana Winograde became one of the new presidents of entertainment at the cable network.[35]

Over the years, Zirinsky has worked with Dan Rather, Lesley Stahl and Ed Bradley. Zirinsky said she has never forgotten them and in her office there are photos of all three newscasters. In her role as president and Senior Executive Producer of CBS News, she is described as having to clean up after the bad boys,[36] [37] restore credibility at CBS, improve the ratings for the news programs that have seen their ratings slump, and chart the future for CBS News. With the announcement of Ryan Kadro, executive producer of CBS This Morning stepping down, high on her to-do list is finding a new executive producer for CBS This Morning. She was also charged with naming a full time permanent executive producer for 60 Minutes.[38]

After CBS

Susan Zirinsky is president of See It Now Studios, which she founded in 2021 after leaving the CBS News presidency.[39] See It Now Studios is part of Paramount Global, which also owns CBS. The studio produced 51 hours of original nonfiction content in its first year primarily for the streaming service Paramount+."[40]

Broadcast News film

The 1987 film Broadcast News was based on Zirinsky's experience at the CBS News Washington Bureau in the early 1980s. She worked with director and screenwriter James L. Brooks and served as associate producer and technical advisor for the film. She also helped prepare actress Holly Hunter to portray her. Hunter job-shadowed Zirinsky and cut her hair into a bob cut to look similar to the producer. Zirinsky gave Hunter some of her clothes to wear in the film. Hunter was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance.[41]

Zirinsky has attended screenings of the film for young journalists and lectured about her career and the making of the film.[42] [43]

Select works

Associate Producer

Executive producer

Senior Executive Producer

Awards and honors

Notes and References

  1. News: Weprin . Alex . April 15, 2021 . Neeraj Khemlani and Wendy McMahon Named Co-Heads of CBS News and CBS TV Stations . The Hollywood Reporter .
  2. Susan Zirinsky, Bios, "48 Hours," CBS News . https://web.archive.org/web/20181102072146/https://www.cbsnews.com/team/susan-zirinsky/ . Textual record . July 21, 2018 . archive.org . Susan Zirinsky, Bios . The Internet Archive.
  3. New York Festivals Honors CBS News Senior Executive Producer, Susan Zirinsky with 2013 TV & Film Lifetime Achievement Award . https://web.archive.org/web/20161118172013/http://www.newyorkfestivals.com/blogtvf/?p=225 . Textual record . February 28, 2013 . archive.org . New York Festivals, International Awards Group . The Internet Archive.
  4. Web site: Susan Zirinsky named president of CBS News, replacing David Rhodes . Haris . Lex . January 7, 2019 . cbsnews.com . January 7, 2019.
  5. Web site: Susan Zirinsky named president of CBS News, succeeding David Rhodes . Stelter . Brian . January 7, 2019 . cnn.com . January 7, 2019.
  6. Web site: Susan Zirinsky named first woman to lead CBS News as David Rhodes departs . Snider . Mike . January 7, 2019 . usatoday.com . January 7, 2019.
  7. Web site: After being rocked by sexual misconduct allegations, CBS News names its first female president . Farzan . Antonia Noori . January 7, 2019 . washingtonpost.com . January 7, 2019.
  8. Web site: Barbara Zirinsky Faden, Obituary . . August 14, 1999 . . November 7, 2016.
  9. Web site: MHA-NYC Gala Calls Upon Public to Start Talking Openly About Mental Health . Grant . James . May 10, 2017 . January 7, 2019 . vibrant.org . The event will also pay tribute to the Zirinsky family, whose commitment to improving mental health services has spanned 50 years and 3 generations. Cynthia Zirinsky -- founder of Gracie Square Hospital and the Richard and Cynthia Zirinsky Center for Bipolar Disorder at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital -- will be honored along with her daughter, legendary CBS News producer Susan Zirinsky; her son-in-law, TV news innovator, Joe Peyronnin; and her granddaughter, Morgan Stanley executive Cynthia Eckes. For 5 decades of leadership and generous philanthropy, a member of the Zirinsky family has served continually on the MHA-NYC Board, changing the face of mental health care..
  10. http://www.mhaofnyc.org/who-we-are/leadership/ Mental Health Association Leadership
  11. News: Long Islanders; Making Her Mark at 'Ma-Pa' Hospital . Lawrence Van Gelder . November 17, 1985 . . November 17, 2016.
  12. https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V66C-3P5 California marriage index
  13. http://www.cchr.org/sites/default/files/CBS_conflict_summary_rev_2006-10-29.pdf CBS conflict of interest
  14. Web site: American University School of Communication Celebrates 25 Years . October 24, 2018 . american.edu . January 7, 2019 . SOC honored alumna Susan Zirinsky as it celebrated 25 years as an independent school and generations of making media that matter. Susan Zirinsky, senior executive producer of the award-winning crime and justice series 48 Hours and senior executive producer of the primetime series 48 Hours: NCIS, Whistleblower, and of the 2013 documentary series Brooklyn D.A., was honored at the event with the SOC Dean's Award. It was presented 'in recognition of her role as a trailblazer, a mentor, and a transformational leader,' said SOC Dean Jeff Rutenbeck..
  15. Web site: Susan Zirinsky Commencement Address, 123rd Commencement, School of Communication, Spring 2009 . May 9, 2009 . American University . January 7, 2019.
  16. Web site: Not-So-Suddenly Susan! . Felix . Gillette . . January 28, 2009 . November 30, 2016.
  17. Book: Weller, Sheila . The News Sorority . 2015 . 2014 . . New York, New York . 978-0-698-17003-2 . November 17, 2016.
  18. Sign-Off: The long and complicated career of Dan Rather . Ken . Auletta . Ken Auletta . March 7, 2005 . . November 3, 2016.
  19. Web site: 5 minutes with 48 Hours Senior Executive Producer Susan Zirinsky . Rex . Sakamoto . June 5, 2015 . . November 17, 2016.
  20. Web site: Susan Zirinsky Gears Up for New Era at CBS News . Steinberg . Brian . January 7, 2019 . variety.com . Variety Media, LLC . January 8, 2019 . Susan Zirinsky, the CBS News executive known to her colleagues as 'Z,' is getting ready for a heady tenure as the new president of CBS News. Gayle King, one of her top anchors, on live TV on Monday morning described her as a 'badass.'.
  21. Web site: CBS News Names Susan Zirinsky as Its First Female President . Flint . Joe . January 6, 2019 . wsj.com . January 7, 2019.
  22. Web site: David Rhodes leaving as head of scandal-scarred CBS News . Johnson . Alex . January 6, 2019 . nbcnews.com . January 7, 2019.
  23. Web site: 5 Things to Know About Susan Zirinsky, the New Head of CBS News . Ryan . Lisa . January 7, 2019 . January 10, 2019 . thecut.com . The Cut.
  24. Web site: CBS Names Legendary Producer Susan Zirinsky As Head Of News . Folkenflik . David . May 10, 2017 . January 10, 2019 . npr.org . National Public Radio.
  25. Web site: Why did it take Susan Zirinsky 46 years to become president of CBS News? . Lipman . Joanne . January 10, 2019 . January 10, 2019 . usatoday.com . USA Today.
  26. Web site: CBS News Shakeup Could Be Good News for Norah O'Donnell . Cartwright . Lachlan . Tani . Maxwell . January 7, 2019 . thedailybeast.com . The Daily Beast . January 8, 2019.
  27. Web site: CBS CEO Les Moonves Fired After Six More Women Accuse Him of Sexual Harassment and Assault . Vacco-Bolanos . Jessica . September 9, 2018 . usmagazine.com . US Weekly . January 8, 2019.
  28. Web site: Draft Report Alleges Ousted CBS Head Les Moonves Destroyed Evidence, Misled Investigators During Probe: NYT . McDade . Mary Beth . December 4, 2018 . ktla.com . January 8, 2019.
  29. Web site: Investigation of Fired CBS CEO Les Moonves Alleges He Had Employee 'On-Call' for Oral Sex: Report . Hohman . Maura . December 5, 2018 . people.com . January 8, 2019.
  30. Web site: Charlie Rose Fired By CBS, After 8 Women Accused Him Of Sexual Harassment . Gonzales . Richard . November 20, 2017 . npr.org . National Public Radio . January 8, 2019.
  31. Web site: Charlie Rose fired from CBS amid sexual misconduct allegations . Fowler . Tara . November 22, 2017 . abcnews.go.com . ABC News . January 8, 2019.
  32. News: '60 Minutes' chief Jeff Fager leaves CBS amid harassment accusations and threatening texts . Izadi . Elahe . September 13, 2018 . The Washington Post . January 8, 2019 . 'This action today is not directly related to the allegations surfaced in press reports, which continue to be investigated independently,' CBS News President David Rhodes said in a memo. 'However, he violated company policy and it is our commitment to uphold those policies at every level.'.
  33. Web site: '60 Minutes' producer Jeff Fager fired . Stelter . Brian . September 13, 2018 . wfmz.com . Maranatha Broadcasting Company, Inc. . January 8, 2019.
  34. Web site: 'She Literally Never Stops.' CBS News, in Need of Fixing, Turns to Susan Sirinsky . Koblin . John . January 7, 2019 . January 10, 2019 . The New York Times.
  35. Web site: New Roles for Showtime Executives in Wake of Moonves Ouster . Koblin . John . January 10, 2019 . . January 10, 2019.
  36. Web site: Susan Zirinsky, legendary figure at CBS, makes history as first female executive to head news division . Battaglio . Stephen . January 7, 2019 . . January 8, 2019 . On Monday morning, incoming CBS News President Susan Zirinsky made an entrance worthy of a rock star. Loud cheers and applause arose from elated staff members as she stepped into the newsroom at the network's studios on Manhattan's West Side for the first time since her appointment was announced Sunday. Some of the people in the 'news hub' have worked with the producer, who is known as 'Z,' for many of her 46 years at CBS. Some were young women, who after seeing their company roiled by #MeToo scandals, were thrilled to watch the first female chief of the division take the reins..
  37. Web site: CBS News Taps Trail-Blazing Woman Susan Zirinsky to Clean Up After Bad Boys . . January 8, 2019 . looksneat.com . January 8, 2019.
  38. Web site: CBS News' New Chief Aims to Chart New Course After Era of Turmoil . Steinberg . Brian . January 9, 2019 . variety.com . Variety Media, LLC . January 9, 2019.
  39. Web site: Johnson . Ted . 2021-09-08 . CBS News Launches New Production Entity See It Now Studios Headed By Susan Zirinsky . 2022-06-22 . Deadline . en-US.
  40. Web site: Major . Michael . Mandy Patinkin to Narrate INDIVISIBLE – HEALING HATE Documentary Series . BroadwayWorld . 13 January 2022 . en.
  41. Worrell . Denise . Holly Hunter Takes Hollywood . . December 21, 1987 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071223092530/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,966298,00.html . dead . December 23, 2007 . January 27, 2009.
  42. Stranger Than Fiction at CBS News . Laureen . Hobbs . . February 1992 . 18 . November 17, 2016.
  43. News: CBS News, Hollywood and 'Truth': A brief history of a long love affair . Verne . Gay . . October 16, 2015 . November 10, 2016.
  44. December 25, 1987 . Broadcast News . Movie . January 12, 2019 . Amercent Films, American Entertainment Partners L.P., Gracie Films.
  45. March 10, 2002 . 9/11 . Documentary . January 12, 2019 . CBS, Goldfish Pictures, Reveille Productions.
  46. May 13, 2005 . Elvis by the Presleys . Documentary, Music . January 12, 2019 . Elvis Presley Enterprises (EPE), RCA Records, Red Eye Flight Productions.
  47. 2005 . Britney & Kevin: Chaotic . TV Mini-Series, Music, Reality-TV, Romance . January 12, 2019.
  48. May 1, 2006 . Beslan: Three Days in September . Documentary . January 12, 2019.
  49. September 14, 2010 . Fashion's Night Out . TV Documentary . January 12, 2019 . Vogue.
  50. February 23, 2013 . Vanity Fair's Hollywood . Documentary . January 12, 2019 . CBS.
  51. Kramer, Nancy (Writer) Klug, Rob (Director) Zirinsky, Susan (Executive Producer) Gelman, Josh (Producer) . May 18, 2007 . That's the Way It Is: Celebrating Cronkite at 90 . Documentary . January 12, 2019 . CBS News.
  52. January 26, 2017 . Mary Tyler Moore: Love Is All Around . TV Movie . January 12, 2019 . CBS.
  53. May 22, 2017 . Princess Diana: Her Life--Her Death--The Truth . Biography, News . January 12, 2019 . CBS.
  54. December 23, 2007 . In God's Name . Documentary . January 13, 2019 . CBS Entertainment Production, Goldfish Pictures.
  55. 2008 . The Lord's Boot Camp . Documentary . January 13, 2019 . Loki Films.
  56. July 26, 2009 . That's The Way It Was: Remembering Cronkite . Documentary . January 13, 2019.
  57. August 26, 2009 . Ted Kennedy: The Last Brother . Documentary . January 13, 2019 . CBS News.
  58. April 29, 2011 . The Royal Wedding: Modern Majesty . TV Special . January 13, 2019 . CBS News.
  59. May 4, 2015 . David Letterman: A Life on Television . TV Documentary . January 13, 2019 . CBS Eye Productions.
  60. November 15, 2015 . Spymasters: CIA in the Crosshairs . Documentary, Drama, War . January 12, 2019 . Showtime.
  61. Web site: Born in Synanon to Premiere on Tuesday, December 12. Paramount Press Express. November 16, 2023. April 11, 2024.
  62. July 13, 2018 . Whistleblower . TV Series . January 12, 2019 . CBS.
  63. https://www.rtdna.org/uploads/files/FAD16_program_web.pdf RTDNA winners
  64. http://www.peabodyawards.com/search-site/zirinsky/null/null Peabody Award winners
  65. Web site: 48 Hours Wins Edward R. Murrow Award . June 16, 2010 . CBS News.

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