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On September 24, 1968, CBS aired the first episode of 60 Minutesa show that became a staple of the American media landscape.
Pioneer of the format “news magazine” 60 Minutes is the longest-running primetime show in American television history.
60 Minutes was intentionally presented as a magazine, with “cover” graphics and a variety of content ranging from straightforward investigative reporting to more light-hearted editorials and commentary.
Its first episode, broadcast on September 24, 1968, featured coverage of the presidential campaigns of Richard Nixon and Hubert Humphreycomments from various writers and journalists, an interview with the Attorney General, part of an Oscar-winning short film, and even a high-minded discussion between the hosts about the nature of reality.
During its execution, 60 Minutes has been known primarily for investigative journalismdubbed “gotcha” journalism by some critics, including exposés on the Vietnam War, the Watergate scandal, the Abu Ghraib torture revelations, and other corporate and political scandals.
The “Point/Counterpoint” segment, which featured two commentators giving the liberal and conservative sides of various arguments, was a 60 Minutes innovation that sparked a host of copycats and parodies.
Yes ok the show has received criticism throughout its history for segments containing incomplete or false reports, it has remained the nation’s leading news program. Several famous journalists and pundits, including Mike Wallace, Dan Rather, Diane Sawyer, Leslie Stahl, Walter Cronkite, and Christiane Amanpour, have contributed to the show, which has won more than 100 Emmys and 20 Peabody Awards.
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