Anderson Cooper Takes the Field as a 'Minutes' Man

New York Daily News
By Marisa Gutherie, Staff Writer

Anderson Cooper, the face of CNN, makes his debut on CBS' "60 Minutes" Sunday, the first of multiple reports Anderson is scheduled to do for the famed newsmagazine.

Cooper fronted stories for the now-defunct "60 Minutes II," but the original show is still viewed as the pinnacle of TV journalism and could serve as a tryout of sorts.

"He brings a lot to the table," said "60 Minutes" executive producer Jeff Fager. "We're always looking for the next full-time correspondent who will eventually join us down that road. He's going to show what he can do in the next couple of years. We'll see how it goes. I'm optimistic."

Cooper will interview Abu Ghraib whistleblower Sgt. Joe Darby, who turned over the infamous photos of U.S. soldiers abusing prisoners there. Darby and his wife have not been able to return to their home and are still in hiding.

"He doesn't want anyone to know where he lives," said Cooper. "He and his wife are still kind of looking over their shoulders. The piece is about how that decision (to turn in the pictures) has completely changed his life, and changed it in many ways for the worse."

Cooper worked on the story with associate producer Casey Morgan and longtime "60 Minutes" producer Bob Anderson, who generated the story, said Fager.

"Anderson was seriously involved in the story," he said. "It's a collaboration between the producer and correspondent. We really believe in that process. Anderson is a serious reporter who really knows how to collaborate well. It's part of why he fits in so well here."

Cooper's "60 Minutes" stories will air on CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360" after they appear on CBS. CNN executives granted Cooper permission to appear on "60 Minutes" only if it didn't interfere with his day job, which means Cooper works on the pieces during weekends and vacations, he said.

"I don't really take vacation anyway, so it hasn't been too bad," he said.

But he views his work at "60 Minutes" as an "incredible opportunity to learn," he said. "The bar is pretty high over at '60 Minutes.'"