Media

Fox News, CBS execs honored with ‘most powerful women’ distinction

by Joe Concha - 06/18/19 12:28 PM ET

Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott and CBS News President Susan Zirinsky have been named to Crain’s New York Business’s “most powerful women” list for 2019, according to a Tuesday announcement from the publication.

The annual list, consisting of 50 women in New York, is billed as “a dynamic representation of the breadth and depth of power held by women in New York.”

Scott was named CEO of Fox News and Fox Business in May 2018, making her the first female CEO of the two networks.

{mosads}She has been with Fox News since its inception in 1996, rising through the ranks and holding positions such as associate producer, senior producer and executive producer before being named vice president of programming ahead of her CEO appointment.

Fox News last month marked its 209th consecutive monthly win in the cable news race over MSNBC and CNN, according to Nielsen Media Research. Overall, Fox News was the most-watched channel on basic cable for the 35th straight month.

Zirinsky’s tenure as head of CBS News has involved making major changes at the network, including naming Norah O’Donnell as Jeff Glor’s replacement on “CBS Evening News.” The newscast will move to Washington, D.C., for the first time in July.

Zirinsky, a former “48 Hours” executive producer, also signed “CBS This Morning” anchor Gayle King to a new contract. King has landed several timely interviews in recent months, including one with embattled artist R. Kelly in a sit-down interview that went viral.

Both Scott and Zirinsky have overseen news divisions amid the #MeToo movement, which has impacted both of their networks.

The late Roger Ailes, who was chairman and CEO, was ousted from Fox News amid sexual harassment allegations, while former CBS chairman and CEO Les Moonves was forced to resign in September following accusations of sexual harassment.