History of Scott Pelley in Timeline
Scott Cameron Pelley is a highly accomplished American journalist who has dedicated over three decades to CBS News. He gained significant recognition for anchoring and managing the CBS Evening News from 2011 to 2017, a period marked by substantial viewership growth and record-breaking ratings. Pelley's distinguished career also includes serving as a White House correspondent and a correspondent for the renowned news magazine 60 Minutes. His contributions to journalism are further evidenced by his authorship of the 2019 book, Truth Worth Telling.
July 28, 1957: Scott Pelley's Birth
On July 28, 1957, Scott Cameron Pelley, an American journalist and author, was born.
1983: Marriage to Jane Boone
Scott Pelley married Jane Boone in 1983. Jane had worked as a television reporter and advertising executive. They would go on to have a son and a daughter.
1989: Start of Pelley's CBS Career
In 1989, Scott Pelley embarked on his career with CBS in New York City.
1990: Coverage of the Persian Gulf Crisis
In 1990, Scott Pelley began his extensive reporting from war zones, covering the Persian Gulf Crisis.
1991: Coverage of the Invasion of Iraq
Scott Pelley continued his reporting from war zones in 1991, covering the invasion of Iraq.
1992: Coverage of the 1992 Presidential Campaigns
Scott Pelley covered the presidential campaigns of Ross Perot and Bill Clinton in 1992.
1993: Reporting on Major Events
Scott Pelley reported on significant events in 1993, including the World Trade Center bombing, the Waco Siege, and the Oklahoma City bombing.
1997: Appointment as CBS News’s Chief White House Correspondent
Scott Pelley was appointed as CBS News’s Chief White House Correspondent in 1997.
1999: Coverage of President Clinton's Impeachment
During President Clinton's impeachment by the U.S. House of Representatives in 1999, Scott Pelley broke the news of Monica Lewinsky's cooperation in the investigation.
1999: Investigative Reporters and Editors Award
In 1999, 60 Minutes II, with Scott Pelley on the team, earned an Investigative Reporters and Editors award. The award recognized their impactful reporting on the exploitation of children forced into slavery in India.
1999: End of Tenure as CBS News’s Chief White House Correspondent
Scott Pelley's time as CBS News’s Chief White House Correspondent ended in 1999.
2006: Texas Tech University College of Media and Communication Hall of Fame
In 2006, Scott Pelley was inducted into the Texas Tech University College of Media and Communication Hall of Fame. He also served on the professional advisory board of the university's College of Media and Communication, demonstrating his continued engagement with his alma mater.
2006: Reporting on the Darfur Genocide
Scott Pelley began reporting on the genocide in Sudan's Darfur region in 2006.
2007: Reporting on the Darfur Genocide
In 2007, Scott Pelley continued his reporting on the Darfur genocide, revealing a village destroyed by government forces.
2007: Critical Acclaim for Journalism
In 2007, Scott Pelley received significant praise for his journalism, including his work on 60 Minutes and his interviews with President Bush and former CIA Director George Tenet.
2007: George Foster Peabody Award
Scott Pelley's team at 60 Minutes won a George Foster Peabody Award in 2007. The award recognized their reporting on the deaths of Iraqi civilians during a U.S. Marine engagement in Haditha, Iraq. The citation praised the investigation for providing a deeper understanding of the incident, the Iraq War, and the difficult choices faced by both soldiers and civilians.
2008: Reporting on the Economic Collapse and Interview with Ben Bernanke
In 2008, Scott Pelley covered the economic collapse and conducted a groundbreaking interview with Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, breaking a long-standing tradition.
2009: George Polk Award, Gerald Loeb Award, and Investigative Reporters and Editors Award
In 2009, Scott Pelley and his team at 60 Minutes received the George Polk Award, the Gerald Loeb Award for Television Enterprise business journalism, and an Investigative Reporters and Editors Award. These were awarded for their investigative report on American recycling companies that were illegally shipping hazardous waste to China, endangering the health of villagers who dismantled the discarded electronics.
2009: George Foster Peabody Award for Report on Remote Area Medical
In 2009, Scott Pelley's team received their second George Foster Peabody Award for their compelling report on Remote Area Medical (RAM), highlighting the organization's work providing free medical clinics for the uninsured in the United States.
2010: Salon.com's "Men on Top" List
In 2010, Scott Pelley was named to Salon.com's "Men on Top" list. The list recognized his contributions to journalism and his positive influence in the field.
2010: Deepwater Horizon Disaster
The Deepwater Horizon drilling rig experienced a catastrophic blowout in 2010, resulting in the loss of 11 crew members and the largest accidental oil spill in history.
June 6, 2011: Became Anchor of CBS Evening News
Scott Pelley succeeded Katie Couric as the anchor of the CBS Evening News on June 6, 2011.
2011: Alfred I. du Pont-Columbia University Award for Deepwater Horizon Disaster Investigation
Scott Pelley's team won the Alfred I. du Pont-Columbia University Award in 2011 for their investigation into the Deepwater Horizon disaster, revealing the drilling rig's troubled history before the 2010 blowout.
2012: Gerald Loeb Award for "The Next Housing Shock"
Scott Pelley and his team received the Gerald Loeb Award for Explanatory business journalism in 2012 for their insightful story "The Next Housing Shock."
March 22, 2013: Outstanding Alumnus of Texas Tech University
On March 22, 2013, Scott Pelley was named an Outstanding Alumnus of Texas Tech University, the highest honor bestowed by the Texas Tech Alumni Association. Though he left the university without a degree, he has maintained a strong relationship with the institution.
2013: Nerve Gas Attack in Damascus, Syria
In 2013, a devastating nerve gas attack occurred in the suburbs of Damascus, Syria, resulting in the deaths of over 1,400 civilians.
2013: George Foster Peabody Award for Duke University Medical Study Investigation
Scott Pelley's team earned a George Foster Peabody Award in 2013 for their investigation into a fraudulent medical study at Duke University, exposing fabricated data in cancer treatment research.
2014: Alfred I. du Pont-Columbia University Award for Sandy Hook Elementary School Coverage
CBS News, including Scott Pelley, received the Alfred I. du Pont-Columbia University Award in 2014 for their coverage of the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.
2014: Notable Interviews and Reporting
Scott Pelley secured significant interviews in 2014, including the first major television interview with FBI Director James Comey and an interview with one of the Navy SEALs involved in the operation to kill Osama bin Laden.
September 2015: Meeting with Pope Francis and Coverage of U.S. Visit
In September 2015, Scott Pelley met with Pope Francis at the Vatican and led CBS News' coverage of the pontiff's subsequent visit to the United States.
2016: Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award for Reporting on Syrian Sarin Gas Attacks
In 2016, Scott Pelley and his team received the Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award for their impactful reporting on the 2013 nerve gas attack in Damascus, Syria.
2016: Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism
Scott Pelley received the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism in 2016. This prestigious award recognized his exceptional work in journalism and his commitment to upholding the highest standards of the profession.
2019: Publication of "Truth Worth Telling"
In 2019, Scott Pelley authored and published the book "Truth Worth Telling."
2020: Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award for Reporting on Migrant Family Separations
Scott Pelley and his team were honored with the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award in 2020 for their reporting on the separation of migrant children from their families at the U.S. border.
April 10, 2022: Interview with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv
On April 10, 2022, Scott Pelley conducted an interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv while the city was under siege by Russian forces.
