Bill Whitaker

Bill Whitaker started his career in the media industry at CBS News, where he worked as a correspondent for the esteemed program "60 Minutes." His role at CBS News allowed him to work with other prominent figures in the industry such as Lesley Stahl and Anderson Cooper. Whitaker's work as a correspondent has seen him delve into various categories including African-American journalists and television personalities. His coverage and reporting have not only established him as a key figure in the industry but also highlighted his significant presence in the media.

In addition to his work as a correspondent, Whitaker has had the opportunity to guest-host the popular game show "Jeopardy!" from May 3–14, 2021. His professional engagements are primarily located in major cities like Philadelphia and Los Angeles, indicating his influence and activity in key media markets. Throughout his career, Whitaker has demonstrated a unique ability to communicate effectively and engage audiences, making him a notable figure in the media industry.

Domestically, his stories have provided keen insights into the hot-button issue of race and policing in America with his reports from Cleveland, Chicago and most recently, Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he got the news-making first interview with the city police officer accused of manslaughter for shooting an unarmed black man. His stories have also drawn attention to death penalty issues in the U.S. and America's heroin epidemic. Whitaker has chronicled the epic battle to capture and hold Mexico's infamous drug lord Joaquin "el Chapo" Guzman, gaining rare access to investigations on both sides of the border.

Before joining 60 Minutes, Whitaker covered virtually all of the major news stories in the West since he was posted to Los Angeles in 1992, reporting regularly for the CBS Evening News and other CBS News broadcasts. He also has worked for Sunday Morning, turning out feature stories and thoughtful profiles, including on Barbra Streisand, Norman Lear and Gladys Knight. One of his most memorable Sunday Morning profiles was of ex-boxer Mike Tyson. He has interviewed First Lady Michelle Obama and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto.

Prior to his assignment to Los Angeles, Whitaker served as CBS News' Tokyo correspondent (1989-92). There, he covered stories throughout Asia, including the pro-democracy uprising in Tiananmen Square, military coup attempts in the Philippines and the enthronement of Japan's Emperor Akihito. He was in Baghdad for the build-up to Desert Storm.

Before that, Whitaker was based in Atlanta (1985-88), where he won an Emmy for his reports on the collapse of Jim and Tammy Bakker's television ministry and covered the 1988 presidential campaign of Michael Dukakis. Whitaker joined CBS News as a reporter in November 1984.

Previously, Whitaker was a correspondent for WBTV-TV, the CBS affiliate in Charlotte, N.C. He began his broadcast journalism career at KQED-TV in San Francisco, where he was a producer, associate producer and researcher/writer.

Whitaker was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Hobart and William Smith Colleges in 1997. His piece on allowing companies to replace Americans with foreign workers won a Sigma Delta Chi award and another report on the biggest data leak in Swiss banking history won an Emmy.