Gretchen Carlson

CBS Newspath Correspondent Gretchen Carlson has been named co-anchor of The Saturday Early Show and a CBS News Correspondent, it was announced by Andrew Heyward, President, CBS News. Carlson joins anchor Russ Mitchell on the Saturday broadcast (9:00-11:00 AM, ET/PT; check local listings) on the CBS Television Network. The appointment is effective April 21, 2002.

"Gretchen's new assignments build on her rock-solid journalistic experience, first in local news and then at CBS Newspath," said Heyward. "But on top of her reporting skills, she is a gifted anchor and interviewer with the right mix of curiosity, passion and smarts. This is a terrific opportunity, both for Gretchen and for CBS News."

Carlson was named a CBS Newspath correspondent in October 2000. Prior to that, she was a weekend anchor and reporter for KXAS-TV Dallas (1998-2000). Carlson was a primary anchor and reporter for WOIO-TV Cleveland, Ohio (1996-98), as well as for its sister station in Cleveland, WUAB-TV (1995-96). Before that, she was an anchor and reporter for WCPO-TV Cincinnati (1992-94) and an anchor and political reporter at WRIC-TV Richmond, Va. (1990-92).

Carlson is the recipient of three American Women in Radio and Television National Awards, for an investigative report on day care and for a 30-part series on domestic violence; two Ohio Press Club Awards, for Best Newscast in Ohio and a First Place citation for public service reporting (1997); and two local Emmy Awards (1994, 1996).

Carlson was born in Anoka, Minn. She graduated with honors from Stanford University in 1990 with a degree in organizational behavior and studied at Oxford University in England. In 1989, Carlson became the first classical violinist to win the Miss America title. She is married and has one child.