Linda Mason, a distinguished journalist who devoted 47 years to CBS News, has died at 84. CBS News released a statement saying she passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on Wednesday night. Mason’s career began in 1966 as a radio desk assistant. She eventually became the first female producer of the “CBS Evening News,” working alongside renowned anchors Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather.
Mason held multiple high-profile positions at CBS News. She served as a senior producer for “CBS Evening News,” executive producer of “CBS Sunday Morning,” vice president of public affairs, and head of CBS News’ standards department. During her tenure at “Sunday Morning,” she covered significant international events such as former President Ronald Reagan’s visit to the Soviet Union, the funeral of Japanese Emperor Hirohito, and the tensions in China leading up to the Tiananmen Square protests.
She also managed the documentary series “CBS Reports” and was the executive producer for the CBS News magazine “Eye to Eye.” Mason directed the creation of two primetime specials, “60 Minutes … 25 Years” and “60 Minutes at 30,” celebrating the legacy of the Sunday night program.
Throughout her career, Mason received numerous accolades, winning 13 Emmy Awards, three Peabody Awards, an Edward R. Murrow Award, an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award, and the Grand Prize from the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Awards.
Born in Middletown, New York, Mason graduated with honors in international relations from Brown University in 1964. She was later recognized with the William Rogers Award in 1991, acknowledging her as the outstanding alumnus of the year. Mason obtained her M.S. degree in filmmaking from Syracuse University in 1965 as a university fellow.