Born in 1933 and raised in Columbus, Ohio,[1] Stone graduated in political science from Cornell University and in 1957 started work as a copy boy for The New York Times.
[2] Moving into television in 1967, he first appeared on ABC TV's This Day Tonight as a reporter before being appointed a news director for the Nine Network in 1975.
According to The Daily Telegraph,[3] "... [Stone] went to Dili with Kerry Packer and cameraman Brian Peters, one of those later killed."
Stone was the inaugural executive producer of the Australian version of the newsmagazine 60 Minutes, first aired in 1979.
"[5] Over the years, Stone's award-winning 60 Minutes revolutionized Australian current affairs reporting and enhanced the careers of Ian Leslie, Ray Martin, George Negus, and, later, Jana Wendt.