Joseph Wershba
Encyclopedia
Joseph Wershba was a professional journalist who joined the CBS News
team in 1944, where he served as a writer, editor and correspondent. He was one of the six original producers of CBS
's 60 Minutes
from 1968-88.
but dropped out after 3 years in 1940 and was drafted into the Army during World War II.
with Fred Friendly and Edward R. Murrow
. His work with Murrow on See It Now reported on the activities of Senator Joseph McCarthy
. Wershba started in television journalism working the microphone with Walter Cronkite
on CBS's Washington, D.C. station news. After a stint as a columnist and feature writer for The New York Post (1958–1964), he returned to CBS. He produced documentaries for "CBS Reports" and was one of the original producers for "60 Minutes" in 1968.
for his work on The Lee Harvey Oswald
Story in 1963. Other awards include the Hillman Prize, Emmys, American Bar Association
, and Peabody
s. He won two Emmy awards at 60 Minutes
, for, respectively, What Happened in Tonkin Gulf (1971) and Teddy Kollek
's Jerusalem (1978).
.
CBS News
CBS News is the news division of American television and radio network CBS. The current chairman is Jeff Fager who is also the executive producer of 60 Minutes, while the current president of CBS News is David Rhodes. CBS News' flagship program is the CBS Evening News, hosted by the network's main...
team in 1944, where he served as a writer, editor and correspondent. He was one of the six original producers of CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
's 60 Minutes
60 Minutes
60 Minutes is an American television news magazine, which has run on CBS since 1968. The program was created by producer Don Hewitt who set it apart by using a unique style of reporter-centered investigation....
from 1968-88.
Early life
He was the eldest child of Louis and Martha (née Peskin) Wershba, and had two younger siblings. His father was a garment worker. Wershba attended Abraham Lincoln High School. He entered Brooklyn CollegeBrooklyn College
Brooklyn College is a senior college of the City University of New York, located in Brooklyn, New York, United States.Established in 1930 by the New York City Board of Higher Education, the College had its beginnings as the Downtown Brooklyn branches of Hunter College and the City College of New...
but dropped out after 3 years in 1940 and was drafted into the Army during World War II.
CBS News Career
In 1944 he was hired and spent four years as a writer for radio news programs. Later, at the Washington Bureau, he worked as a reporter on Hear It NowHear It Now
Hear It Now, an American radio program on CBS, began in December 1950, ending in June 1951. It was hosted by Edward R. Murrow and produced by Murrow and Fred W. Friendly. It ran for one hour on Fridays at 9 pm Eastern Time.- The show's beginnings :...
with Fred Friendly and Edward R. Murrow
Edward R. Murrow
Edward Roscoe Murrow, KBE was an American broadcast journalist. He first came to prominence with a series of radio news broadcasts during World War II, which were followed by millions of listeners in the United States and Canada.Fellow journalists Eric Sevareid, Ed Bliss, and Alexander Kendrick...
. His work with Murrow on See It Now reported on the activities of Senator Joseph McCarthy
Joseph McCarthy
Joseph Raymond "Joe" McCarthy was an American politician who served as a Republican U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin from 1947 until his death in 1957...
. Wershba started in television journalism working the microphone with Walter Cronkite
Walter Cronkite
Walter Leland Cronkite, Jr. was an American broadcast journalist, best known as anchorman for the CBS Evening News for 19 years . During the heyday of CBS News in the 1960s and 1970s, he was often cited as "the most trusted man in America" after being so named in an opinion poll...
on CBS's Washington, D.C. station news. After a stint as a columnist and feature writer for The New York Post (1958–1964), he returned to CBS. He produced documentaries for "CBS Reports" and was one of the original producers for "60 Minutes" in 1968.
Recognition
Joseph Wershba received the Silurian Award for lifetime achievement in journalism. He was also nominated for a Pulitzer PrizePulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
for his work on The Lee Harvey Oswald
Lee Harvey Oswald
Lee Harvey Oswald was, according to four government investigations,These were investigations by: the Federal Bureau of Investigation , the Warren Commission , the House Select Committee on Assassinations , and the Dallas Police Department. the sniper who assassinated John F...
Story in 1963. Other awards include the Hillman Prize, Emmys, American Bar Association
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
, and Peabody
Peabody Award
The George Foster Peabody Awards recognize distinguished and meritorious public service by radio and television stations, networks, producing organizations and individuals. In 1939, the National Association of Broadcasters formed a committee to recognize outstanding achievement in radio broadcasting...
s. He won two Emmy awards at 60 Minutes
60 Minutes
60 Minutes is an American television news magazine, which has run on CBS since 1968. The program was created by producer Don Hewitt who set it apart by using a unique style of reporter-centered investigation....
, for, respectively, What Happened in Tonkin Gulf (1971) and Teddy Kollek
Teddy Kollek
Theodor "Teddy" Kollek was mayor of Jerusalem from 1965 to 1993, and founder of the Jerusalem Foundation. Kollek was re-elected five times, in 1969, 1973, 1978, 1983 and 1989...
's Jerusalem (1978).
Personal life
He and his wife/professional partner, Shirley, had two children. The couple initially was forced to keep their marriage secret due to CBS network regulations. Shirley Wershba developed one of the first shows to focus on women's issues, Dimensions of a Women's World. The Wershbas resided in New Hyde Park, New YorkNew Hyde Park, New York
New Hyde Park is a village in Nassau County, New York, United States, on Long Island.The population of the Village of New Hyde Park was 9,712 at the 2010 census...
.
Good Night and Good Luck
Wershba was portrayed by Robert Downey, Jr. in the 2005 film Good Night, and Good Luck. The secrecy of the Wershba marriage was a significant subsidiary theme in the film.External links
- Eve's Mag
- Guide to the Joseph and Shirley Wershba Papers at the University of Texas.
- Participate.net
- Museum.tv
- Joseph Wershba interview at Archive of American TelevisionArchive of American TelevisionThe Archive of American Television is a division of the non-profit Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation that films interviews with notable people from all aspects of the television industry....