Susan Zirinsky Biography

Fast Facts

• Was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the New York Festivals International Television & Film Awards in 2013
• Won an Emmy Award, a Peabody Award, an Edward R․ Murrow Award for Excellence, a Christopher Award, and a Writers Guild of America Award for her production work on the documentary "9/11․"
• Began working for CBS News in 1972 as a part-time production clerk
• Prior to joining "48 Hours," she worked as the director of political reporting and as a producer for "CBS Evening News․"
• Quote: "You can say 'no' to me 50 times, I'm still going to call you on Monday with an idea․ I think the truly successful people in this business are ravenous․"
• Was the producer of the 2013 documentary "The Grammys Will Go On: A Death in the Family," which explored the Grammys ceremony that took place on the night that Whitney Houston died
• Best known as the senior executive producer of "48 Hours" on CBS News
• Served as senior producer for CBS News coverage of the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France
• Has produced several specials on politics, including "Ted Kennedy: The Last Brother" and "Change and Challenge: The Inauguration of Barack Obama․"
• Is often referred to simply as "Z" by her colleagues at CBS News
• Launched the crime blog "Crimesider" on CBSNews․com in conjunction with "48 Hours" and produced the web series "Countdown" as a companion to the CBS TV series "Jericho․"