CBS Names Jefferson News Operations VP

Rick Jefferson today was named vice president of news operations at CBS News. Jefferson begins in the role immediately, will be based in New York and report to David Rhodes, president, CBS News.

Jefferson is an Emmy Award-winning executive who has been director of production at CBS News since March 2016. He has more than three decades of television production experience in broadcast and cable news, including nearly 20 years within CBS, where he’s had lead roles managing and coordinating coverage of several presidential inaugurations, political conventions, award shows and other major events.

In his new position, Jefferson will be responsible for the division’s technical personnel and facilities worldwide, including hard news, primetime and public affairs. Jefferson will oversee CBS News’ bureaus and operations for coverage of such events as conventions, elections and presidential trips. He’ll also be responsible for exploring the latest technologies and lead the design of advanced broadcast technology for CBS News.

Previously, Jefferson was director of production for CBS This Morning, the network’s morning news broadcast, from December 2012 to March 2016.

He joined CBS News in 2012 after holding multiple key positions at MSNBC. He was the manager of technical operations there from 2009 to 2012, prior to which he served for nearly 13 years as senior technical production manager for the cable network.

Before joining MSNBC, Jefferson spent a year as a production supervisor for CBS-owned flagship station WCBS New York (1995-96). Earlier, he served in a variety of capacities for CBS, including broadcast distribution manager (1992-95), supervisor, broadcast operations (1991-92) and satellite control manager (1990-91).

He began his television career with CBS as a network documentation clerk in 1984.

Jefferson graduated from St. John’s University, where he majored in communications arts and minored in liberal arts.