CBS News Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent, Debates with Academia, Trusting Your Gut
This week I spoke with Margaret Brennan, 2002 UVA grad who’s now the Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent and Moderator of Face the Nation at CBS News.
The Rundown:
COLD OPEN: Unpaid CNN internship → CNBC → BLOOMBERG → CBS
TURNING POINT: Figuring out what in this is appealing to me
STEAL THIS: Do you really believe that
INDUSTRY INSIDER: The difference between journalism and content creation
IF I WERE YOU: Going out on your own or gaining experience
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COLD OPEN
How Did You Get Your Start?
My first TV job was an unpaid internship at CNN the summer of 2001 in Atlanta. I was lucky I had an aunt and uncle who let me live with him and commute to work.
When I graduated UVA, I got my first paid job at CNBC in the financial news network. It was the first place I saw the mechanics of television and learned production.
I didn’t feel entirely fulfilled by the job. I wanted to be the one going out telling stories and investigating, but I was told no due to my young age and experience level.
I thought about returning to academia, and came quite close to it. I gave up on my apartment, was sleeping on my best friend's couch in New York, and was going to move overseas for a fellowship.
My boss asked me to give it a few months – he didn't think I should go. “Trust me on this,” he said. That boss ended up becoming the head of the network and offered me an on-air reporting job, with the condition that I would be my own producer.
He was taking a risk on me, as I was on him. I was around 25 at the time and really pained over the decision.
I took the job, and that’s how I got my start.
Currently, I’m the moderator of Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan at CBS News. Face of the Nation is one of the longest running news programs in the history of television – it features interviews with prominent American officials, politicians, and authors.
TURNING POINT
What’s A Challenge You Faced Early On?
When you're first starting out, you're trying to get your footing in the business, figuring out what’s appealing to you in those first months and years.
Asking yourself “Is this a job where I’m just getting a paycheck or is this a calling?” or “Can I push through the difficult moments to reach something fulfilling on the other end?”
Finding the answers to those questions and finding a job that's meaningful can be difficult.
I work in the journalism industry. It can be overwhelming at times and especially in this moment in particular. Working those difficulties often relies on your belief that what you're doing serves a greater purpose.
STEAL THIS
What’s A Question You Love To Be Asked (Or Asking)?
Given my job, I often ask people “Do you really believe that?”
When preparing for an interview, I always want to understand what someone's intention is. Why are they choosing to speak now at this moment in time?
It takes a lot of trust for someone to tell you their story. Especially when retelling their story is in your hands.
INDUSTRY INSIDER
What Do People Misunderstand About Journalists?
I operate in a format of journalism where we interview people at the center of big decisions, confronting them with facts and follow up questions.
In this kind of journalism, we have editorial standards that can’t be compromised. The strict regulatory atmosphere in broadcasting doesn't exist on social media.
I think people sometimes blur the lines between journalists, content producers, and commentators. Journalism, at its core, has to be grounded in fact-finding, context, and a commitment to getting as close to the truth as possible.
ROLL THE TAPE
What Interviews Are You Most Proud Of?
I love the interviews where it feels I’ve moved the story forward – helping to illuminate something for myself and for the public.
Getting a first glimpse at an event to witness history is special. Some of the most impactful stories I witnessed were going into the refugee camps in Jordan or seeing the aftermath of the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012.
Now my work is a bit different. I’m cross-examining policymakers and power brokers.
IF I WERE YOU
Do You Have Any Advice For Students?
When I was graduating in 2002, I had an Arabic language minor and Middle East studies degree in foreign affairs. After the wake of 9/11, obviously there was a lot of interest in that field.
Some people recommended I move to Egypt to go be a stringer (what we in the industry call freelance journalists). Live out on your own and find stories as they come.
It didn't feel like the right choice for me. I wanted to gain a skill set and training before being placed somewhere new, potentially dangerous.
I think it’s important to trust yourself. Sometimes things can sound exciting and sometimes they’re great opportunities. You have to weigh your options and go with your gut.