Susan Zirinsky returns to CBS News as interim executive editor

Former CBS News president Susan Zirinsky will return to lead the news division as interim executive editor.

CBS CEO George Cheeks announced Zielinski's role in a memo Monday night. Zirinsky, who is affectionately known as “Z” within CBS, will also continue to run the documentary unit “See it Now Studios.”

Cheeks said CBS News and Television chief Wendy McMahon had been looking for an executive editor “whose specific mission would be to ensure we have the expertise, resources and oversight to be able to operate with the highest degree of balance and integrity” Covering the most challenging issues.”

He noted that news as complex and controversial as the conflict in Gaza can be difficult to navigate. Interview by cbs morning show Co-host Tony Dokupil even made national news, prompting a response from Paramount controlling shareholder Sally Redstone.

On Monday, the Anti-Defamation League issued a statement criticizing 60 minutes The statement was “biased and one-sided” against Israel.

“While there is no way to cover these sensitive issues without eliciting a level of criticism, we have a responsibility to address them,” Cheeks wrote Monday. “This includes feedback about perceived bias in CBS News' reporting “We cannot let this negatively impact our legacy or our future, our mission or our connection with our audience.”

Zirinsky, longtime executive producer of Newsmagazine 48 hoursHe resigned as president of CBS News in 2021 after two years as president. She currently leads the company's content studio, See It Now Studios, which produces news, documentaries and non-fiction programming for CBS, Paramount+ and other platforms.

Zirinsky has produced documentaries including projects on John Lewis, 9/11, the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting and the 2014 Ferguson riots.

Most recently, Zielinski made the documentary we will dance againrecording live broadcast the terrorist attack launched by Hamas on attendees of the Nova Music Festival in Israel on October 7, 2023.

Read Cheeks’ memo below.

CBS News Team—

In today's rapidly changing news environment, it is critical that newsrooms deliver balanced, accurate, fair and timely coverage quickly and efficiently, including on highly complex, sensitive issues such as the wars in the Middle East.

CBS News takes this responsibility seriously. While it is impossible to report on these sensitive issues without attracting a degree of criticism, we have a responsibility to address them. This includes feedback regarding perceived bias in CBS News coverage. We cannot let this negatively impact our legacy or our future, our mission or our connection with our audience.

Wendy and her team have been looking to fill the newly created executive editor position, which will span the entire news division and will be tasked with ensuring we have the expertise, resources and oversight to maximize coverage of the most challenging issues . Balance and integrity. The Standard will report on this new position.

We have asked Susan Zirinsky, who is familiar to you all, to serve as executive editor on an interim basis while we conduct this search.

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