From 1971 to 1972, Spencer worked as a researcher for CBS-owned
WCBS-TV in New York. She was also a writer and producer for public affairs broadcast at
WKPC-TV in Louisville, Kentucky. From 1972 to 1977, she worked for
Minneapolis-based CBS station
WCCO-TV, where she was reporter and co-anchor. She joined
CBS News' Washington bureau in 1977 and became a correspondent in 1978. In 1986, she was named medical correspondent for CBS News. She anchored the CBS Sunday Night News from 1987 to 1988. Also from 1987 through 1988, she was a substitute anchor and from 1988 through 1989, anchor of the Sunday edition of
CBS Evening News. In 1989, she reported on the death of
Emperor Hirohito of Japan and
Tiananmen Square protests. A year later, based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Spencer reported major international events such as the
Persian Gulf War. ==Awards==