Linda Mason, a veteran journalist who spent 47 years at CBS News, died Wednesday night at the age of 84. According to a statement from the network, Mason passed away peacefully surrounded by her family. She was the first woman to serve as a producer for the "CBS Evening News," a role she began in 1971.
Mason began her career at CBS in 1966 as a radio desk assistant following a period at The Providence Journal. Over nearly five decades, she held numerous leadership roles, including senior producer for "CBS Evening News," executive producer for "CBS Sunday Morning" and "CBS Reports," and vice president of public affairs. In 2005, she was named senior vice president of standards and specials, a position she held until her retirement in 2013.
During her tenure at "CBS Sunday Morning," Mason covered international events such as the unrest in China prior to the Tiananmen Square uprising, the funeral of Japanese Emperor Hirohito, and former President Ronald Reagan’s first visit to the Soviet Union. She also oversaw or was the liaison for internal investigations into the network's reporting, including an inquiry into the 2000 election night coverage and a 2004 report regarding a "60 Minutes Wednesday" segment on George W. Bush’s National Guard service.
Mason earned 13 Emmy Awards, three Peabody Awards, and an Edward R. Murrow Award during her 47-year career. As the network’s representative to the National Election Pool consortium, she was involved in the process that determined how election data was reported. Her work in the standards department meant she was responsible for maintaining the ethics and accuracy protocols that governed the network’s journalism until her retirement.
For the general public, Mason’s work was visible in the programs she executive produced, including the documentary series "CBS Reports" and primetime specials such as "60 Minutes at 30." While her death marks the end of her personal contributions, the standards and training programs she established influenced the operations of the CBS News standards department. No information regarding future memorial services or public commemorations was reported in the provided statements.