Susan Zirinsky
Birth Name:
Susan Zirinsky
Profession
Producer, Editorial department, Director, Production manager
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․"
- Best known as the senior executive producer of "48 Hours" on CBS News
- 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
- 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․"
- Served as senior producer for CBS News coverage of the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France
Awards
- 1999Emmy - Outstanding Coverage of a Continuing News Story - Programs:Nominated
- 2000Emmy - Outstanding Instant Coverage of a News Story - Programs:Nominated
- 2002Emmy - Best Report in a News Magazine:Nominated
- 2002Emmy - Outstanding Coverage of a Continuing News Story - Long Form:Nominated
- 2002Emmy - Outstanding Informational Programming - Long Form:Nominated
- 2002Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Non-Fiction Special (Informational):Winner
- 2003Christopher Award - Television & Cable:Winner
- 2005Edward R. Murrow Award - Edward R. Murrow Award:Winner
- 2006Emmy - Outstanding Continuing Coverage of a News Story in a News Magazine:Winner
- 2008Emmy - Outstanding Continuing Coverage of a News Story in a News Magazine:Nominated
- 2010Emmy - Outstanding Coverage of a Breaking News Story in a News Magazine:Nominated
- 2010Emmy - Outstanding Investigative Journalism in a News Magazine:Nominated
- 2010Emmy - Outstanding Continuing Coverage of a News Story in a News Magazine:Nominated
- 2012Emmy - Outstanding Continuing Coverage of a News Story in a News Magazine:Winner
- 2013Emmy - Outstanding Coverage of a Breaking News Story in a News Magazine:Nominated
- 2014Emmy - Outstanding Coverage of a Breaking News Story in a News Magazine:Winner
- 2015Emmy - Outstanding Continuing Coverage of a News Story in a News Magazine:Winner
- 2016Emmy - Outstanding Coverage of a Breaking News Story in a News Magazine:Nominated
- 2017Emmy - Outstanding Coverage of a Breaking News Story in a News Magazine:Nominated
- 2017Emmy - Outstanding Coverage of a Breaking News Story in a News Magazine:Nominated
- 2023Christopher Award - Best Documentary:Winner
- 2023Emmy - Outstanding Politics and Government Documentary:Nominated
- 2023Emmy - Outstanding Current Affairs Documentary:Nominated
- 2026News and Documentary Emmy - Outstanding Historical Documentary:Nominated
- 2026News and Documentary Emmy - Best Documentary:Nominated