CBS News Taps Jay Shaylor to Oversee ‘Evening News’ Push Into D.C.

By Brian Steinberg

LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) – Jay Shaylor will move form working with Wolf Blitzer to helping the venerable “CBS Evening News” storm the nation’s capital.

Shaylor, who has been executive producer of CNN’s “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer” since 2013, has been named executive producer of “,” and will help guide the program as CBS News moves it to a new base in Washington, D.C. later this fall. CBS News is working to boost the longtime program – the former home of Walter Cronkite, Dan Rather and Katie Couric – out of its perennial third-place ranking. Norah O’Donnell took over as anchor and managing editor of the broadcast in July.

“Jay is an innovative producer who brings experience and energy to the team,” said O’Donnell, anchor and managing editor of the broadcast. “I look forward to partnering with him as we continue to build the ‘CBS Evening News’ for the future and begin a new chapter of this broadcast’s storied history in Washington.”

His tenure at “Situation Room” has likely lent him skills that will play into the evening-news mission. That two hour broadcast features anchor Blitzer covering breaking news on matters of national import, including national security and politics. Shaylor has led the the control room during live coverage of everything from the recent San Bernardino terror attacks to the firing of former FBI chief James Comey.

Before joining CNN, Shaylor was the senior producer of ABC’s “Good Morning America” overseeing editorial content and production of the broadcast during the evening and overnight hours. In 2012, Shaylor was part of the senior team that helped “Good Morning America” usurp the first place position that had long been the possession of NBC rival “Today,” ending NBC’s 16-year winning streak in the morning. At ABC News, Shaylor also served as one of Diane Sawyer’s anchor producers, produced investigative and spot news stories, and was “Good Morning America’s” primary producer in the field during breaking news.

He holds a Master of Science with honors from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, where he was awarded a Pulitzer Traveling Fellowship. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in American history from the University of Virginia. He currently resides in Washington, D.C. with his wife and two children.