Departures of note

Linda Mason was an American broadcast journalist and producer who spent 47 years at CBS News, beginning as a radio desk assistant in 1966. She became the first female producer of the "CBS Evening News," working alongside legendary anchors Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather, and went on to hold senior positions including executive producer of "CBS Sunday Morning" and vice president of public affairs.

For "CBS Sunday Morning," she produced coverage of major international stories, and she oversaw the documentary series "CBS Reports" and the news magazine "Eye to Eye," as well as anniversary specials on "60 Minutes." Over her career she earned 13 Emmy Awards, three Peabody Awards, an Edward R. Murrow Award, an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award, and the Grand Prize of the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Awards.

Born and raised in Middletown, New York, Mason graduated with honors in international relations from Brown University in 1964 and received a master's degree in filmmaking from Syracuse University. In 1991, Brown honored her with its William Rogers Award as outstanding alumnus of the year.