Background
Wershba, Joseph was born on August 19, 1920 in New York City. Son of Louis and Martha (Peskinas) Wershba.
Wershba, Joseph was born on August 19, 1920 in New York City. Son of Louis and Martha (Peskinas) Wershba.
Wershba attended Abraham Lincoln High School.
He was one of the six original producers of Columbia Broadcasting System"s 60 Minutes from 1968 to 1988. He was the eldest child of Louis and Martha (née Peskin) Wershba, and had two younger siblings. He entered Brooklyn College but dropped out after 3 years in 1940 and was drafted into the Army during World World War World War II
In 1944 he was hired and spent four years as a writer for radio news programs.
Later, at the Washington Bureau, he worked as a reporter on Hear lieutenant Now with Fred Friendly and Edward R. Murrow.
His work with Murrow on See lieutenant Now reported on the activities of Senator Joseph McCarthy. Wershba started in television journalism working the microphone with Walter Cronkite on Columbia Broadcasting System"s Washington, District of Columbia station news.
After a stint as a columnist and feature writer for The New York Post (1958–1964), he returned to Columbia Broadcasting System. He produced documentaries for Columbia Broadcasting System Reports and was one of the original producers for 60 Minutes in 1968. He was also nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for his work on The Lee Harvey Oswald Story in 1963.
Other awards include the Hillman Prize, Emmys, American Bar Association, and Peabodys.
Joe Wershba was portrayed by Robert Downey, Junior. in the 2005 film Good Night, and Good Luck. Shirley Wershba was portrayed by Patricia Clarkson. The secrecy of the Wershba marriage was a significant subsidiary theme in the film.
Served with Army of the United States, 1942-1944.
Married Shirley Lubowitz, April 10, 1948. Children: Randi Tina, Donald Edward Charles.