Susan Zirinsky is a TV news legend who's been with CBS News since age 20

The New York Times

The 48 Hours executive producer, who's 66, was announced Sunday as the first woman to lead CBS News. “She’s the hardest-working person that I have ever known,” said retired Face the Nation host Bob Schieffer, who has known Zirinsky since she joined CBS News as a desk assistant in 1972. “She literally never stops. And I think it’ll pump a little enthusiasm into a place that kind of really needs it right now.” For her part, Zirinsky admits she's actually turned down the job of running CBS News before because she considers herself primarily a producer. But this time, she says she opted to say yes because of all the problems within the division. “The context of the times really, really demands a focus and a commitment on the part of journalists to hold firm and not to be distracted by somebody yelling at you or calling you names,” she tells The New York Times. “When you go into battle or go into a boxing ring and they trash-talk you to take you off your footing, you can’t do that. That’s part of why I thought it was so important to do this now.”

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