About
"I think a journalist should be informing the public. I think a journalist has a duty to the audience. I think a journalist should be elevating things that are accurate and truthful, and being very careful not to elevate things that are inaccurate and lies. I think journalists should hold people accountable, especially people in power. And I think journalists should be pushing and asking questions for those people who are not able to ask those questions, or be in the room, or who don’t have the political or economic clout to push for answers."
In her three-hour remote TheirStory interview, Soledad O'Brien discusses growing up on Long Island, NY, attending Harvard University, and getting hired for her early jobs in journalism at WBZ in Boston, NBC Nightly News in New York, and KRON-TV in San Francisco. She recalls joining MSNBC as the anchor of The Site, working at MSNBC Morning Blend and Weekend Today, and talks about why she left NBC for CNN in 2003. She then discusses several of the major news stories she's covered throughout her career, including the 2004 tsunami in Thailand, Hurricane Katrina, the 2010 Haiti earthquake, and the Sandy Hook school shooting. O'Brien describes how she got into making documentaries at CNN, and talks about the successful documentary series Black in America and Latino in America. She recalls anchoring Starting Point on CNN and covering presidential elections, reveals why she left CNN in 2013, and recounts the creation of her own production company, Soledad O'Brien Productions (formerly titled Starfish Media Group). She outlines what she believes the role of a journalist is, discusses her use of Twitter, and comments on how changes in media consumption have impacted journalism. She describes the format of Matter of Fact with Soledad O'Brien, shares where she was when the COVID-19 pandemic began, and details what pandemic production has been like. She talks about penning "A MeToo Moment for Journalists of Color" for The New York Times in July 2020 and discusses working on Disrupt & Dismantle, Black and Missing, and the podcast Murder on the Towpath. She offers advice to aspiring journalists and concludes with remarks on the value of mentors and on her greatest achievements and regrets. Jenni Matz conducted the interview on January 14, 2022.
Highlights
Soledad O'Brien on covering Hurricane Katrina; on her interview with FEMA director Michael Brown
Soledad O'Brien on moving to the documentary division at CNN and launching the Black in America series
Soledad O'Brien on covering the 2010 earthquake in Haiti
Soledad O'Brien on penning "A MeToo Moment for Journalists of Color" for The New York Times in July 2020
Soledad O'Brien on where she was at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and what pandemic production has been like
Soledad O'Brien on advice to aspiring journalists
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On where she's calling in from; on her childhood in Long Island, New York; on watching television as a kid; on attending Harvard University; on leaving Harvard University to begin an internship at WBZ in Boston; on what she learned at WBZ; on why she was drawn to working in news
On working for Bob Bazell at NBC Nightly News; on enjoying traveling for work; on what's in her go-bag when she travels for work
On working at KRON-TV in San Francisco -- her first time as an on-camera reporter; on the state of journalism in the early 1990s; on joining MSNBC as the anchor of The Site and developing her voice as an anchor; on working on MSNBC Morning Blend, NBC News, and the weekend version of Today; on the role of an anchor and the role of a reporter; on covering breaking news
On where she was on 9/11; on leaving NBC for CNN in 2003; on network notes she received while at NBC and CNN
On some of the major stories she's covered throughout her career: the 2004 tsunami in Thailand and Hurricane Katrina (2005); on her interview with FEMA director Michael Brown
Chapter 2
On her experience flying out of the Baton Rouge airport after covering Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans for several weeks; on covering the 2010 Haiti earthquake; on safety precautions she takes to protect herself and her crew when covering natural and man-made disasters; on first hearing the starfish story in Haiti; on the emotional toll of covering tragedies; on covering the Sandy Hook school shooting
On moving to the documentary division at CNN; on Black in America and Latino in America; on the listening tours for Black in America and Latino in America
On anchoring Starting Point on CNN; on her political coverage while at CNN; on the AC360 special "Kids on Race: The Hidden Picture"
On why she left CNN in 2013; on starting her own production company
Chapter 3
On the role of a journalist in 2022; on the term "both sides-ism"; on objectivity in journalism; on bias in reporting and in hiring; on journalists she grew up watching and journalists she respects
On her news sources in 2022; on how she uses Twitter and Instagram; on how changes in media consumption have impacted journalism; on how she defines good journalism
On the format of Matter of Fact with Soledad O'Brien; on her criticism of mainstream media's coverage of the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections and of how some journalists deal with fake news and disinformation; on whether or not she would interview Donald Trump; on her thoughts on the coverage of the January 6, 2021 Capitol Insurrection; on where she was at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic; on working on Outbreak: The First Response and Black and Missing in 2020; on the logistical challenges of production during the pandemic
On penning "A MeToo Moment for Journalists of Color" for The New York Times in July 2020; on tracking the demographics of who she hires and who she puts on the air on Matter of Fact with Soledad O'Brien; on inclusivity in her hiring practices; on Disrupt & Dismantle; on what she hopes audiences take away from Black and Missing; on Murder on the Towpath and what she enjoys about the podcast format; on talent development deals and getting more into scripted programming
On advice to aspiring journalists; on the best advice she's ever received; on the value of oral histories; on the mission of the PowHERful Foundation; on the importance of mentors in her career; on what she looks for in assembling a team; on the game Roses and Thorns; on her greatest career achievement and career regrets; on dream projects that she'd like to do; on how she'd like to be remembered
Shows
American Morning
Soledad O'Brien on co-anchoring American Morning at CNN
Black and Missing
Soledad O'Brien on working on Black and Missing in 2020
Soledad O'Brien on what she hopes audiences take away from Black and Missing
Black in America
Soledad O'Brien on the team behind Black in America at CNN and on asset and deficit framing and how they impact storytelling
Soledad O'Brien on how Black in America was received and on becoming more recognizable as a result of the series
Soledad O'Brien on the listening tours for Black in America and Latino in America
Black in America: "Eyewitness to Murder: The King Assassination"
Soledad O'Brien on moving to the documentary division at CNN and launching the Black in America series
Soledad O'Brien on Jesse Jackson's comments to her after Black in America: "Eyewitness to Murder: The King Assassination" aired
Disrupt & Dismantle
Soledad O'Brien on Disrupt & Dismantle
Latino in America
Soledad O'Brien on the team behind the Latino in America documentary series
Soledad O'Brien on controversy surrounding Lou Dobbs and how it impacted Latino in America
Soledad O'Brien on the listening tours for Black in America and Latino in America
Matter of Fact with Soledad O'Brien
Soledad O'Brien on the format of Matter of Fact with Soledad O'Brien
Soledad O'Brien on tracking the demographics of who she hires and who she puts on the air on Matter of Fact with Soledad O'Brien
NBC Nightly News
Soledad O'Brien on what she learned working for Bob Bazell as his associate producer at NBC Nightly News
Outbreak: The First Response
Soledad O'Brien on where she was at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and on shooting the documentary Outbreak: The First Response
Site, The
Soledad O'Brien on joining MSNBC as the anchor of The Site and developing her voice as an anchor
Starting Point
Soledad O'Brien on anchoring Starting Point on CNN
Today
Soledad O'Brien on leaving NBC in 2003 -- at the time she was co-anchoring the weekend version of Today, Weekend Today
Topics
9/11
Soledad O'Brien on where she was on 9/11
Advice
Soledad O'Brien on advice to aspiring journalists
Soledad O'Brien on the best advice she's ever received; on the best advice she's ever received
COVID-19 Pandemic
Soledad O'Brien on where she was at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and what pandemic production has been like
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Soledad O'Brien on learning from her boss, Jeanne Blake, at WBZ
Soledad O'Brien on the importance of mentors and sponsors in her career
Donald J. Trump
Soledad O'Brien on her criticism of mainstream media's coverage of the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections and of how some journalists deal with fake news and disinformation; on whether or not she would interview Donald Trump
Soledad O'Brien on her thoughts on the coverage of the January 6, 2021 Capitol insurrection
Health and Medicine
Soledad O'Brien on where she was at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and what pandemic production has been like
Historic Events and Social Change
Soledad O'Brien on where she was on 9/11
Soledad O'Brien on covering the 2004 tsunami in Thailand
Soledad O'Brien on covering Hurricane Katrina; on her interview with FEMA director Michael Brown
Soledad O'Brien on the state of journalism in the 1990s, women she worked with at KRON, and whether or not she faced bias and discrimination at that time
Soledad O'Brien on her experience flying out of the Baton Rouge airport after covering Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans for several weeks
Soledad O'Brien on covering the 2010 earthquake in Haiti
Soledad O'Brien on Jesse Jackson's comments to her after Black in America: "Eyewitness to Murder: The King Assassination" aired
Soledad O'Brien on penning "A MeToo Moment for Journalists of Color" for The New York Times in July 2020
Soledad O'Brien on where she was at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and what pandemic production has been like
Memorable Moments on Television
Soledad O'Brien on her interview with FEMA director Michael Brown
Soledad O'Brien on her thoughts on the coverage of the January 6, 2021 Capitol Insurrection
Natural Disasters
Soledad O'Brien on covering the 2004 tsunami in Thailand
Soledad O'Brien on covering Hurricane Katrina; on her interview with FEMA director Michael Brown
Soledad O'Brien on her experience flying out of the Baton Rouge airport after covering Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans for several weeks
Soledad O'Brien on covering the 2010 earthquake in Haiti
Pivotal Career Moments
Soledad O'Brien on learning from her boss, Jeanne Blake, at WBZ
Soledad O'Brien on the importance of mentors and sponsors in her career
Representation on Television
Soledad O'Brien on the state of journalism in the 1990s, women she worked with at KRON, and whether or not she faced bias and discrimination at that time
Soledad O'Brien on penning "A MeToo Moment for Journalists of Color" for The New York Times in July 2020
Television and the Presidency
Soledad O'Brien on her political coverage while anchoring Starting Point at CNN
Soledad O'Brien on her criticism of mainstream media's coverage of the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections and of how some journalists deal with fake news and disinformation; on whether or not she would interview Donald Trump
Soledad O'Brien on her thoughts on the coverage of the January 6, 2021 Capitol insurrection
Television Industry
Soledad O'Brien on advice to aspiring journalists
Soledad O'Brien on the best advice she's ever received
Underrepresented Voices
Soledad O'Brien on the state of journalism in the 1990s, women she worked with at KRON, and whether or not she faced bias and discrimination at that time
Soledad O'Brien on Jesse Jackson's comments to her after Black in America: "Eyewitness to Murder: The King Assassination" aired
Soledad O'Brien on penning "A MeToo Moment for Journalists of Color" for The New York Times in July 2020
Women
Soledad O'Brien on the state of journalism in the 1990s, women she worked with at KRON, and whether or not she faced bias and discrimination at that time
Professions
Anchor
Soledad O'Brien on developing her voice as an anchor
Soledad O'Brien on the role of an anchor and the role of a reporter
Journalists & News Producers
Soledad O'Brien on what she learned working for Bob Bazell as his associate producer at NBC Nightly News; on enjoying traveling for work
Soledad O'Brien on what's in her go-bag when she travels for work
Soledad O'Brien on developing her voice as an anchor
Soledad O'Brien on the role of an anchor and the role of a reporter
Soledad O'Brien on network notes she received while at NBC and CNN
Soledad O'Brien on the state of journalism in the 1990s, women she worked with at KRON, and whether or not she faced bias and discrimination at that time
Soledad O'Brien on how she approaches interviewing people who are in the midst of tragedy
Soledad O'Brien on the importance of identity, who tells stories, and cultural context
Soledad O'Brien on what makes a good interview
Soledad O'Brien on safety precautions she takes to protect herself and her crew when covering natural and man-made disasters
Soledad O'Brien on how she manages after covering a difficult story
Soledad O'Brien on asset framing and deficit framing and how they impact storytelling
Soledad O'Brien on the role of a journalist in 2022
Soledad O'Brien on the term "both sides-ism"
Soledad O'Brien on objectivity in journalism
Soledad O'Brien on bias in reporting and in hiring
Soledad O'Brien on journalists she grew up respecting and watching
Soledad O'Brien on how changes in media consumption have impacted journalism
Soledad O'Brien on how she defines good journalism
Soledad O'Brien on the logistical challenges of production during the COVID-19 pandemic
Soledad O'Brien on penning "A MeToo Moment for Journalists of Color" for The New York Times in July 2020
Soledad O'Brien on inclusivity in her hiring practices
Soledad O'Brien on advice to aspiring journalists
Soledad O'Brien on the best advice she's ever received
Soledad O'Brien on the importance of mentors and sponsors in her career
Soledad O'Brien on what she looks for in assembling a team
Soledad O'Brien on her greatest career achievement
Soledad O'Brien on career regrets
Soledad O'Brien on dream projects that she'd like to do
News Producer
Soledad O'Brien on what she learned working for Bob Bazell as his associate producer at NBC Nightly News; on enjoying traveling for work
Genres
News and Documentary
Soledad O'Brien on why she was drawn to working in news
Soledad O'Brien on understanding that being on camera in the news world gives you a certain amount of power
Soledad O'Brien on working at KRON-TV in San Francisco -- her first time as an on-camera reporter
Soledad O'Brien on the state of journalism in the early 1990s and whether or not she faced bias and discrimination at that time
Soledad O'Brien on joining MSNBC as the anchor of The Site and developing her voice as an anchor; on working on MSNBC Morning Blend, NBC News, and the weekend version of Today; on the role of an anchor and the role of a reporter; on covering breaking news
Soledad O'Brien on leaving NBC for CNN in 2003, network notes she received while at NBC and CNN, and some of the major stories she's covered throughout her career: the 2004 tsunami in Thailand and Hurricane Katrina (2005)
Soledad O'Brien on moving to the documentary division at CNN and launching the Black in America documentary series
Soledad O'Brien on the Latino in America documentaries for CNN
Soledad O'Brien on anchoring Starting Point on CNN
Soledad O'Brien on the AC360 special "Kids on Race: The Hidden Picture"
Soledad O'Brien on the format of Matter of Fact with Soledad O'Brien
Soledad O'Brien on working on Black and Missing in 2020
Soledad O'Brien on tracking the demographics of who she hires and who she puts on the air on Matter of Fact with Soledad O'Brien
Soledad O'Brien on Disrupt & Dismantle
Soledad O'Brien on what she hopes audiences take away from Black and Missing
Soledad O'Brien on where she was at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and on shooting the documentary Outbreak: The First Response
People
Rose Arce
Soledad O'Brien on the team behind the Latino in America series
Robert Bazell
Soledad O'Brien on working for Bob Bazell as his associate producer at NBC Nightly News
Jeanne Blake
Soledad O'Brien on learning from her boss, Jeanne Blake, at WBZ, and on the responsibilities at her first job at WBZ
David Bloom
Soledad O'Brien on the death of her Weekend Today co-anchor David Bloom
Kim Bondy
Soledad O'Brien on the valuable perspective that Executive Producer Kim Bondy brought to Black in America
Michael Brown
Soledad O'Brien on her interview with FEMA director Michael Brown
Katie Couric
Soledad O'Brien on journalists she grew up watching and journalists she respects
Lou Dobbs
Soledad O'Brien on controversy surrounding Lou Dobbs and how it impacted Latino in America
Bryant Gumbel
Soledad O'Brien on journalists she grew up watching and journalists she respects
Kamala Harris
Soledad O'Brien on interviewing Vice President Kamala Harris during the COVID-19 pandemic
Bill Hemmer
Soledad O'Brien on co-anchoring American Morning with Bill Hemmer at CNN
Jesse Jackson
Soledad O'Brien on Jesse Jackson's comments to her after Black in America: "Eyewitness to Murder: The King Assassination" aired
Jim Lehrer
Soledad O'Brien on journalists she grew up watching and journalists she respects
Robert MacNeil
Soledad O'Brien on journalists she grew up watching and journalists she respects
Gloria Rojas
Soledad O'Brien on journalists she grew up watching and journalists she respects
John H. Sununu
Soledad O'Brien on interviewing John Sununu and how she navigates interviews with people who spread misinformation and disinformation