On September 24, 1968, CBS aired the first episode of 60 Minutes, introducing American television audiences to a new approach to broadcast journalism. Created by veteran television producer Don Hewitt and initially anchored by Mike Wallace and Harry Reasoner, the program pioneered the television “newsmagazine” format and would eventually become the longest-running primetime program in American television history.
Hewitt envisioned a news program that would function much like a magazine. Rather than devoting an entire broadcast to a single subject, 60 Minutes would offer several shorter stories covering a wide range of topics. The concept allowed the program to move between serious investigative reports, interviews, political coverage, cultural stories, and commentary within the same hour. Most television news documentaries at the time focused on one subject for an entire broadcast, making Hewitt’s approach an unusual experiment.
The first episode aired on a Tuesday night and looked noticeably different from the 60 Minutes that later generations would recognize. The famous ticking stopwatch was not yet part of the broadcast. Instead, Reasoner introduced the program by explaining that it was essentially a magazine adapted for television.
That debut offered an eclectic collection of stories. With the 1968 presidential election approaching, the program featured coverage of Republican Richard Nixon and Democrat Hubert Humphrey and their presidential campaigns. It also included an interview with the U.S. attorney general, commentary from journalists and writers, a portion of the Oscar-winning short film Why Man Creates, and a discussion between Wallace and Reasoner about the nature of reality.
Success did not arrive immediately. 60 Minutes originally aired every other Tuesday at 10 p.m. and struggled to attract a large audience. Over its first several years, CBS moved the program through different time slots. In 1975, it settled into the Sunday evening time period that would become closely associated with the show. By the late 1970s, 60 Minutes had become one of television’s most popular programs.
Over the decades, the broadcast became especially known for investigative journalism and high-profile interviews. Its roster of contributors has included journalists such as Wallace, Reasoner, Morley Safer, Dan Rather, Diane Sawyer, Leslie Stahl and others. The program also introduced memorable features such as “Point/Counterpoint,” in which commentators presented opposing perspectives on major issues.
What began as an experimental television format on September 24, 1968, ultimately helped reshape broadcast journalism. By combining the depth of documentary reporting with the variety of a magazine, 60 Minutes demonstrated that serious news could also succeed in primetime television. Its remarkable longevity turned Don Hewitt’s unusual idea into an American television institution.
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