Coronavirus Claims Veteran CBS News Producer

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For 29 years, Maria Mercader served as a Producer at CBS News. In May 2016, she was promoted to Director of Talent Strategy.


During that time, Mercader fought cancer and related illnesses.

She couldn’t defeat the novel coronavirus.

Mercader died Sunday (3/29) at a New York hospital. She was 54 years old.

Mercader had been on medical leave from CBS News since the final week in February, for an unrelated ailment. Exposure to the novel coronavirus subsequently occurred.

With numerous treatments and surgeries across two decades, Mercader was among the most vulnerable to the effects of the COVID-19 virus.

“Even more than her talents as a journalist, we will miss her indomitable spirit,” CBS News President and Sr. Executive Producer Susan Zirinsky said. “Maria was part of all of our lives. Even when she was hospitalized, and she knew something was going on at CBS, she would call with counsel, encouragement, and would say, ‘You can do this.’ I called Maria a warrior. She was.”

CBS News EVP Ingrid Ciprian-Matthews added, “The Maria we are privileged to call family and friend knew better than most the power of relationships, loyalty, faith, kindness, perseverance and a smile, even when a smile defied the darkness of the moment. Her notable professional contributions are part of the CBS Archives, but it is her management human spirit that touched so many of us, that will stay forever.”