Bob Simon
Encyclopedia
Bob Simon is a CBS News
television correspondent.
From 1964–67, Simon served as an American Foreign Service officer and was a Fulbright Scholar in France
and a Woodrow Wilson
scholar. From 1969–71, he served a tour in the CBS News London
bureau. From 1971–77, he was based in the London and Saigon bureaus where he served as a Vietnam War
correspondent. From 1977–81, he was assigned to the CBS News Tel Aviv
bureau.
From 1981–82, he spent time in Washington, D.C., as the CBS News State Department correspondent. From 1982–87, Simon served as a New York
-based CBS News national correspondent. In 1987, Simon was named the CBS News Chief Middle Eastern correspondent.
During the opening days of the Gulf War
in January 1991, Simon and his CBS News team were captured by Iraqi forces and spent 40 days in Iraqi prisons; he later chronicled the experience in the book, Forty Days.
In 1996, Simon joined 60 Minutes
as a correspondent, and in 1998 he was named a 60 Minutes II correspondent. Notable stories he has done in recent years include the first profile of the so-called "Lost Boys of Sudan
", and an exclusive interview with Iraqi Shiite insurgency leader Muqtada al-Sadr
. He currently serves as the Senior Foreign Correspondent for 60 Minutes.
CBS News
CBS News is the news division of American television and radio network CBS. The current chairman is Jeff Fager who is also the executive producer of 60 Minutes, while the current president of CBS News is David Rhodes. CBS News' flagship program is the CBS Evening News, hosted by the network's main...
television correspondent.
From 1964–67, Simon served as an American Foreign Service officer and was a Fulbright Scholar in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and a Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
scholar. From 1969–71, he served a tour in the CBS News London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
bureau. From 1971–77, he was based in the London and Saigon bureaus where he served as a Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
correspondent. From 1977–81, he was assigned to the CBS News Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
bureau.
From 1981–82, he spent time in Washington, D.C., as the CBS News State Department correspondent. From 1982–87, Simon served as a New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
-based CBS News national correspondent. In 1987, Simon was named the CBS News Chief Middle Eastern correspondent.
During the opening days of the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
in January 1991, Simon and his CBS News team were captured by Iraqi forces and spent 40 days in Iraqi prisons; he later chronicled the experience in the book, Forty Days.
In 1996, Simon joined 60 Minutes
60 Minutes
60 Minutes is an American television news magazine, which has run on CBS since 1968. The program was created by producer Don Hewitt who set it apart by using a unique style of reporter-centered investigation....
as a correspondent, and in 1998 he was named a 60 Minutes II correspondent. Notable stories he has done in recent years include the first profile of the so-called "Lost Boys of Sudan
Lost Boys of Sudan
The Lost Boys of Sudan is the name given to the groups of over 20,000 boys of the Nuer and Dinka ethnic groups who were displaced and/or orphaned during the Second Sudanese Civil War , about 2.5 million killed and millions were displaced...
", and an exclusive interview with Iraqi Shiite insurgency leader Muqtada al-Sadr
Muqtada al-Sadr
Sayyid Muqtadā al-Ṣadr is an Iraqi Islamic political leader.Along with Ali al-Sistani and Ammar al-Hakim of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, Sadr is one of the most influential religious and political figures in the country not holding any official title in the Iraqi government.-Titles:He is...
. He currently serves as the Senior Foreign Correspondent for 60 Minutes.
Awards
- Recipient of the Edward Weintal Prize given by Georgetown UniversityGeorgetown UniversityGeorgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
's Institute for the Study of Diplomacy in recognition of "distinguished reporting on foreign policy and diplomacy" - 22-time Emmy AwardEmmy AwardAn Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
winner - 4-time Overseas Press Club recipient
- Winner of the George Foster PeabodyGeorge Foster PeabodyGeorge Foster Peabody was a banker and philanthropist.-Early life:...
Award