News Releases

RTNDA Mourns Loss Of Broadcast Pioneer Don Hewitt

CONTACT: Stacey Staniak, 202.467.5214 or staceys@rtnda.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 19, 2009 

WASHINGTON - RTNDA deeply mourns the loss of Don Hewitt, a pioneer and legend in broadcast journalism, who died Wednesday at the age of 86 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Hewitt is best known for creating “60 Minutes,” where he was executive producer for 35 years. While heading the program, Hewitt aptly demonstrated his ability to spot both on-air talent and a solid news story – setting a new standard for television journalism and introducing us to some of the finest journalists in the field.

In 1987, Hewitt won RTNDA’s prestigious Paul White Award. Named for the first news director of CBS, the award is RTNDA's highest honor and recognizes an individual's lifetime contributions to journalism.

In 2001, Hewitt won RTNDF’s First Amendment Leadership Award, which honors an individual’s work towards promoting press freedoms. In his acceptance speech, he talked about the First Amendment and campaign finance laws: “Somebody, for God's sake, has to take on the constitutional scholars who propound what I believe to be an idiotic notion that it is unconstitutional –unconstitutional for someone to stop someone from buying an election by prohibiting a television station from refusing to sell a politician as much commercial time as he or she has the money to pay for.”

In a 2001 memoir, Hewitt wrote that the formula for successful journalism came down to four words: “Tell me a story.” His candor and direct approach to telling stories have left a footprint in television journalism that will never be worn away.

According to the Associated Press, "60 Minutes" won 73 Emmy Awards, 13 DuPont/Columbia University Awards and nine Peabody Awards during Hewitt's stewardship, which ended in 2004.

“The accolades and awards Don Hewitt received over his long and influential career really only begin to tell the tale of his genius,” said RTNDA Chairman Stacey Woelfel. “To say Don was a pioneer in the field really doesn’t do his legacy justice. He was an innovator, a trailblazer and a great mind. He will certainly be missed."

About RTNDA

RTNDA  is the world’s largest professional organization devoted exclusively to electronic journalism. RTNDA  represents local and network journalists in broadcasting, cable and other electronic media in more than 30 countries. Along with the Radio and Television News Directors Foundation, RTNDA sponsors scholarships, fellowships, training seminars, mentoring programs and more as part of its diversity efforts.