Susan Zirinsky is the President and Executive Producer of See It Now Studios at CBS/Paramount. Formerly President and Senior Executive Producer of CBS News, she began her tenure in 2019, initiating an overhaul of the division, launching CBS Evening News with Norah O’Donnell from Washington, D.C., and reshaping CBS This Morning’s anchor team. She also appointed new leadership to iconic programs, including 60 Minutes, 48 Hours, and CBS News Special Events.
Zirinsky’s career at CBS began just weeks after the Watergate break-in. Over four decades, she has produced award-winning documentaries and breaking news coverage, including the Gulf War, 9/11, Tiananmen Square, and mass shootings from Sandy Hook to Parkland. She served as senior executive producer of 48 Hours and produced numerous acclaimed specials and series, such as Brooklyn DA, The Injustice Files, In God’s Name, and David Letterman: A Life on Television.
Her documentary work includes 11 Minutes (2022), We Will Dance Again (2024), and Superpower (2023), each of which earned Emmy nominations. She has also led coverage of major events, including presidential inaugurations, royal weddings, and national tragedies.
Zirinsky began as a desk assistant in the CBS Washington Bureau while attending American University, where she graduated cum laude. She covered the White House during the Carter and Reagan years and became a model for Holly Hunter’s character in Broadcast News. A pioneer in broadcast journalism, Zirinsky is celebrated for her leadership, storytelling, and mentorship across generations of journalists.