PUMANAW ang 60 Minutes reporter na si Morley Safer nitong Huwebes, Mayo 19, isang linggo matapos niyang magretiro sa kanyang trabaho sa CBS na pinaglingkuran niya ng 52 taon. Siya ay 84.
“Morley Safer has died. A masterful storyteller, inspiration to many of us and a wonderful friend,” tweet ng 60 Minutes executive producer na si Jeff Fager nitong Huwebes.
Matatandaang inihayag ng yumaong correspondent ang kanyang pagreretiro sa 60 Minutes noong Miyerkules, Mayo 11, na nagpalabas ng one-hour special bilang pagkilala sa kanyang serbisyo nitong Linggo, Mayo 15.
“After more than 50 years of broadcasting on CBS News and 60 Minutes, I have decided to retire,” pahayag niya sa kanyang final broadcast noong Marso. “It’s been a wonderful run, but the time has come to say goodbye to all of my friends at CBS and the dozens of people who kept me on the air. But most of all I thank the millions of people who have been loyal to our broadcast.”
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Ang unang istorya ni Safer sa 60 Minutes ay tungkol sa training ng U.S. Sky Marshals noong 1970, at ang kanyang huling istorya ay tungkol sa arkitektong si Bjarke Ingels. Naging correspondent siya ng nasabing news program sa loob ng 46 na season.
“Morley has had a brilliant career as a reporter and as one of the most significant figures in CBS News history, on our broadcast and in many of our lives,“ pahayag ni Fager bago inihayag ni Safer ang kanyang pagreretiro. “Morley’s curiosity, his sense of adventure and his superb writing all made for exceptional work done by a remarkable man.”
Si Safer, katuwang sina Mike Wallace, Harry Reasoner, Ed Bradley, Bob Simon,Andy Rooney, Steve Kroft, Lesley Stahl at iba pa, ay nagtulung-tulong upang maging matagumpay ang 60 Minutes.
Ang Toronto-born journalist ay nagtrabaho at naglingkod sa Canada bago lumipat sa broadcast news, bilang correspondent sa Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Sumanib siya sa CBS noong 1964 bilang isang reporter, at binuksan ang Saigon bureau makalipas ang isang taon.
Si Safer ang may hawak ng record bilang longest-serving correspondent ng 60 Minutes.
Si Safer din ang sumulat ng bestselling book na Flashbacks: On Returning to Vietnam, na naglalarawan sa kanyang pagbabalik sa Vietnam noong 1989 at kanyang mga panayam sa iba’t ibang Vietnamese veterans. (US Weekly)
