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Kristen Welker, the first Black journalist to host “Meet the Press,” the longest-running television program in history, reflected on her one-year anniversary as the show’s moderator, emphasizing her commitment to holding those in power accountable while amplifying diverse voices. She also shared insights into how the show is reaching new audiences, her approach to balancing work and family life, and her practices for self-care.
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LifestyleTranscript
00:00I have really started to realize that taking care of your own health is not being selfish.
00:05It is a necessary part of being a good mom, of being present for my kids, of being an effective
00:10moderator. And so I try to carve out time for myself every week to exercise, to get outside,
00:17to take a long walk. Sometimes I'm walking and I'm pushing a stroller with two kids in it,
00:21and those are the best kinds of walks. But to make sure that I am taking that pause
00:27so that I can recharge both mentally and physically.
00:32Hey, Essence fam, I am News and Politics editor Melissa Noel, and we are back with another
00:38edition of Black Women in the News. And today I have the honor and pleasure of sitting with
00:44Kristen Welker, the host of Meet the Press. Kristen, it is absolutely a pleasure to have
00:52you join us today and to actually get to chat with you because we got to cover your historic
00:56debut on Meet the Press a year ago. And now we get to chat with you a year later. So we're excited.
01:03Well, Melissa, it's an honor to be with you all. Thank you so much. And I'm excited to chat with
01:08you as well. It's great to be with you. Ah, awesome. Awesome. So Black Women in the News has been
01:14a really, really great way for our audience to not only get to know a little bit more about the Black
01:20women who are covering the news that we hear, we see, and we're consuming every day, but to get to
01:27know a little bit more about your journey. So I want to just take a minute and I think I'd be remiss
01:34if we don't talk about the historic debut that you made a year ago on Meet the Press, becoming the first
01:40Black journalist to host the show, which is the longest running show on television. So reflecting on
01:46this milestone, how would you say you put your personal stamp on the program over the past year?
01:52And what has it been like balancing the rich legacy of the show, but also the vision that you have for
01:58it? Well, Melissa, it's a really great question. It was an incredible honor to be given the opportunity
02:06to moderate Meet the Press. I'm the second woman to moderate Meet the Press, Martha Roundtree,
02:13who actually created the show all of those years ago, was the first woman. So I really stand on her
02:20shoulders and the shoulders of all of the moderators before me. And my goal really every Sunday is to
02:27live up to the great legacy of Meet the Press, to hold those who are in power or who are seeking
02:32power accountable for their words, for their actions, to get answers on behalf of the American
02:37people. And the way that I've approached this role and the way that I've really tried to put my own
02:42stamp on it is to make sure that we are hearing from a wider range of voices, to make sure that no
02:48one is left out of this conversation. We've created a segment called Meet the Moment, which allows us to
02:53talk to people who impact our politics, but who aren't necessarily elected officials. So talking to
02:59Alison Felix about Black maternal health, talking to Selma Blair about rights for those who are living
03:06with disabilities. And I think that expanding the conversation has been really my goal and focus.
03:13No, and I thank you for that. And you brought me right into the next point, which is just talking
03:18about, you know, bringing some of those voices who may not necessarily be elected officials, but
03:24they may be what audiences or people that the audience members see every day or may know quicker than
03:31they may know other elected officials or other people. So how have you seen that be impactful in
03:38terms of what the audience has said to see someone like an Alison Felix talking directly about maternal
03:44health and being able to bring another voice to it outside of, of course, elected officials who are
03:49either writing the laws or making some of those decisions?
03:53Well, I think that expanding our voices is part of our way of reaching a wider and also younger audience.
03:59And that is such an important part of our politics. Our young voices, our young voters play such a
04:05critical role. And these are issues that matter to them. So we just recently featured a meet the
04:11moment with JJ Velasquez, who was wrongfully convicted decades ago, and he was finally exonerated. And
04:19we got to report on that and share his powerful story. We also interviewed Dan Slepian, who is the
04:25Dateline producer who helped to shine a light on the fact that he was wrongly convicted. And just
04:29dealing with these issues, again, that impacts our politics, our culture, families all across the
04:35country. I really see that as the expanding role of Meet the Press.
04:39Yeah, thank you so much. And as you said, widening the audience, especially, you know, Gen Z being
04:45really vocal.
04:48They're telling us like it is, and they're holding people's feet to the fire. So to be able to meet that
04:53moment with them, I think has certainly been critical, especially in these political times.
04:58So as we're heading into the 2024 presidential election, what do you see as some of the biggest
05:05issues that will likely shape the outcome? And are there any emerging topics that, or topics that
05:12you think that we're not necessarily paying enough attention to that may just turn out to be a deciding
05:19factor? As we, as Americans head to the polls, we know early voting has already begun in some places,
05:25but just as these things get underway.
05:29Well, we have to think about the economy. That is the top issue for voters all across the country
05:34and voters who cut across all different groups. And it's really fascinating that that has been
05:42a constant. And so we are trying to keep that in focus. When we have our conversations on Meet the Press,
05:48every Sunday. But look, there are a number of other issues that have risen to the forefront.
05:53This is going to be the first presidential election, Melissa, after Roe v. Wade was overturned.
05:59Abortion is going to be on the ballot in 10 different states. We've seen it be an energizing factor
06:05in elections since Roe v. Wade was overturned. So we have to keep our focus on that as well.
06:10And then again, I go back to younger voters. What are issues they care about? Gun control, climate change.
06:17So really covering the range of issues for voters.
06:21Yeah, it definitely spans the wide range of issues. And definitely people want their voices heard.
06:30And we see how social media has really played a huge role in that. How have you been connecting
06:36with your viewers who are viewing Meet the Press, and especially younger viewers, right,
06:41as the audience expands? How have you been connecting with them on social media, online,
06:47kind of meeting those moments, you know, meeting people where they are?
06:51Being on social media is, you're absolutely right about meeting our viewers and meeting voters,
06:55quite frankly, where they are. So we do have a really robust presence online where we try to make
07:00sure that we are getting the news out as quickly as possible from the program, but then going a step
07:06beyond that to make sure that we're delving deeper into some of these topic areas, making sure that
07:12that is being shared online as well. And just making sure that we have that presence. And I'm so proud
07:19that after a year sitting in the chair, our online presence has grown, our presence on YouTube has
07:26grown, and the number of views that we are getting and viewers that we are getting in all of those spaces.
07:31And it's really an area that we have been focused on. And I think you're seeing, look,
07:36candidates and campaigns increasingly focused on it as well, because that is where our younger viewers
07:42in particular are getting their news. And I think that it's such an important part of informing the
07:48public. That is our goal every single week, to make sure that we are getting critical information
07:54to our viewers, to voters all across this country, so that they can make the best decision for
07:58themselves when they walk into the voting booth or when they vote early.
08:01Yeah. And we have so many ways we can do that as elections approach. We know that you host the show
08:10that really you have political interviews we know can be intense sometimes, especially given the stakes
08:17of today's conversations. What would you say have been some of the most challenging moments you've had,
08:25or how have you navigated some of those challenging moments in terms of interviewing politicians that,
08:32you know, you want to get the questions answered, you're trying to inform American people, but it can
08:35be difficult. How do you navigate those tough conversations? And what advice can you give
08:41to our audience who, whether they're trying to go into journalism or just any other role, how to
08:48navigate difficult experiences on the job?
08:51The way that I navigate a challenging interview, and quite frankly, they all are, is to always go back to this
08:57fundamental question. Have I gotten an answer to the question that I just asked? Sometimes someone's answer
09:04requires a little bit of fact checking or that I fill in some context in between. So that really requires me to be
09:10read in on whatever topic I'm asking. If I don't know the topic, Melissa, 10 layers deep, I don't ask the question.
09:18And I think that's a really important principle to keep in mind. And I'm always asking myself, did I get an
09:24answer to the question? If not, I try to go back to the question to say, I didn't hear an answer to what
09:31I just asked. And I think that viewers appreciate that because they're following along. And when I talk
09:37to voters, Melissa, and this is one of the things that I'm proud of also, I have spent a lot of time on
09:41the trail talking to voters about the issues that matter to them. What did they want answers to? I try
09:47to keep their voices in my head. And I try to get answers on behalf of them. Because if they watch a
09:54program and they feel like, boy, I really didn't get the answers that she asked, then I haven't done
10:00my job. And so that is my guiding principle. That is my advice to any aspiring journalist. When you ask a
10:06question, make sure that you understand the context of the question that you're asking. And
10:12be patient. Don't be afraid to go back two or three times to say, let me try again and try to get an
10:19answer to the original question that I just asked. Because I do think that viewers really appreciate
10:24that because they know that you're getting answers on behalf of them. Thank you so much for that. That
10:28fundamental principle, right? Like you can always go back to it, get that question answered, or try to
10:34at least in different ways that you can. So I want to kind of take a little turn here. We know that you
10:41grew up in Philadelphia. And Pennsylvania, of course, is a huge battleground state this time around for
10:48the elections. But just Pennsylvania and the role that it's played in democracy, America's democracy
10:55in general, how does your Philly upbringing, how has it informed and influenced the way that you
11:02do your storytelling, as well as what you bring to the show? Well, I think it inspired me to become
11:09a journalist in the first place, because Philadelphia is, in many ways, the birthplace
11:14of our democracy and has played such a critical role in our democracy moving forward. My mom was very
11:21involved in politics when I grew up. She ran for city council. And so I got to watch that from the
11:27side of someone who was cheering for a candidate, but also got to watch how the media treated her
11:34as a black politician. And I understood the importance at a young age, I was in high school
11:39when she first ran for city council of getting her story right. And so that was one of the experiences
11:46as a kid growing up in Philly that really inspired me the power of politics, the power of political
11:53journalism to play a role in our democracy. And so I've really carried those principles forward as
12:00a journalist now on the national stage. And I have loved being a kid from Philadelphia who now gets to
12:08be a journalist watching what has happened with Pennsylvania. By the way, I spent five years
12:14reporting in Pennsylvania, including during the 2008 election. So I got to interview the late Senator
12:21John McCain, then Senators Obama and Hillary Clinton as a local reporter. And that was an incredibly
12:28important moment for Pennsylvania as well. And so here we are again in 2024. Pennsylvania is going to be
12:35key. I think it is a razor tight race in Pennsylvania. There's a lot of focus. The candidates are there.
12:41Former President Barack Obama is going to start his campaigning. Harris in Pennsylvania. I think it all underscores
12:47just how critical of a battleground state Pennsylvania is. I so appreciate that context
12:53there. And just hearing a little bit more about your journey. And I know your mom must be so proud
12:58of you for sure. And I thank you for just taking a little time to not only talk about your journey
13:06there, but also just how critical a state like Pennsylvania is and how just important it is for
13:12us to be engaged and informed as we not only move into this election, but just in general.
13:19Absolutely. And I have to say, I give so much credit to my parents. They are proud and they're so
13:27supportive, Melissa. They still watch every single live shot, every single broadcast. Sometimes my mom
13:33has some commentary. I mean, she has some constructive criticism.
13:37Of course, she wouldn't be mom without that. Absolutely. But they are my role models because
13:43the lesson that they passed along to me when I was growing up is that you have to be engaged in your
13:48community. And that is one of my guiding principles as a journalist. And so they still live in
13:56Pennsylvania. They are two of my most important focus group members because I'm always asking them
14:03what's happening on the ground in Pennsylvania. They keep me informed there. But obviously,
14:08we have spent so much time focused on Pennsylvania and not just the polling there, but the mood of the
14:14people. And Pennsylvania was one of the states that I traveled to to conduct a real focus group with
14:20voters to get their sense of what they care about in this election. And so it is a state that we will
14:26be returning to from now until Election Day. And of course, there are so many battleground states that
14:31we're focused on as we get closer to the election. For sure. And now talking about your, we talked
14:37about your parents, but now I want to talk about you a little bit. You know, you're in this high
14:42profile role at Meet the Press, but you are also a new mom. And so I'd like to know how have you
14:48managed to find a balance between the demands of such an important program and just your professional
14:56life in general and your family life. Well, when I accepted the role as moderator, I made a promise
15:03to myself to give this role 150% to give it all of me. And of course, I have to give my kids 200%.
15:12And the way that I do that is that when I am at home, I put my phone down, I am focused on them.
15:18I don't do any work until bedtime and until everyone is tucked in and everyone has had a
15:24wonderful dinner. And then I focus on my work as moderator of Meet the Press. And Melissa,
15:30I have to tell you, that means a lot of late nights. Last night I was up well past midnight
15:34doing my research preparing for this Sunday's show, but it is worth it. And I feel so invigorated
15:40every day because I feel so blessed for the life that I have, for the two beautiful children that I
15:47have, Margo and John Zachary. John Zachary just turned four months. Margo is three years old and
15:55she has this amazing personality that is developing. And I feel happy every day being with them and
16:02watching them grow. And also knowing that I get to work on this extraordinary program that does have
16:09this incredible legacy. And in them, I am always reminded of my purpose, which is to make sure that I am
16:17educating, not just the, you know, my generation, the older generation, but the next generation.
16:25And so it is really, I think being a mom and a working mom is just a way to focus what my principles
16:32are and what my priorities are, which is to help educate this great country.
16:37Oh, thank you so much for that. I think that will resonate with a lot of the working moms in our
16:42audience who are like, how can I, how do I, how can I get this all done? But it's every day is
16:48different, of course, but I just thank you for sharing that with us. I wanted to know to round
16:54out this conversation here, a couple more questions. How do you recharge? We know, especially
17:01a political show, it's high stakes, high pressure, a lot is going on. So what do you do to recharge and
17:08just, you know, reset for Kristen? The best way to recharge is to spend time with my family. In fact,
17:17this Sunday, when I finished the show, we're going to go pick out a pumpkin and everyone's really excited
17:22about that. And I unplug and I stay focused on our family activities and what we are doing. And I also try
17:32to make sure I'm getting time outside and that I am taking care of my own health. Melissa, that is so
17:38important. I have really started to realize that taking care of your own health is not being selfish.
17:44It is a necessary part of being a good mom, of being present for my kids, of being an effective
17:50moderator. And so I try to carve out time for myself every week to exercise, to get outside,
17:57to take a long walk. Sometimes I'm walking and I'm pushing a stroller with two kids in it. And those are
18:02the best kinds of walks. But to make sure that I am taking that pause so that I can recharge both
18:08mentally and physically. Oh, I absolutely appreciate that. As you said, it's so simple, but sometimes
18:14we're so busy, we don't even think about it. Take it a minute to just go outside, get fresh air,
18:20take a walk. Some days it's like, did I eat lunch? Did I go outside today? And so that reminder is
18:28critical. And I appreciate you for sharing that. And so the last question I just have for you is
18:34this again is Black Women in the News. And part of what we do here is ensuring that the next generation
18:42of Black women who are interested in news, who are watching you, know that they can do it too.
18:49So the question I have here is, what would you say to an aspiring storyteller? Because maybe they
18:56want to be a journalist, maybe they're going to do something a little different, but their voices
19:00are important. What would you say to them, especially if they're struggling right now,
19:06they're not sure how to find their way? What would your advice be to them about just continuing along
19:11the path? My advice to aspiring Black journalists is believe in yourself, never give up, look to the
19:20past to know that you are capable of doing anything you set your mind to. If you put the work in,
19:27I look at some of those who inspired me, Carol Simpson, Gwen Ifill, who took me to dinner when I first got to
19:36Washington, gave me great advice and really helped me to find my footing when I first arrived here in
19:45this incredibly competitive environment. They continue to inspire me. Of course, Gwen Ifill,
19:51we mourn the fact that she's no longer with us. And I would say to those who are aspiring to be
19:58journalists to look around you, who inspires you. Don't be afraid to reach out for help, for advice,
20:06for guidance. You're going to have tough days. You're going to have days when it feels like, boy,
20:11I don't know if I can do this job. I have had plenty of those days. We all have, but the key
20:17is believing in yourself and knowing that you can do it. And to our more senior journalists,
20:24I would say it is so important that we don't let young journalists, black journalists, journalists
20:30of color, women journalists fall through the cracks. Make sure that you are paying it forward,
20:35that you are taking time for that lunch or that dinner so that you can give advice, so that you can
20:41pass your information along to the next generation. Because ultimately, that is our responsibility.
20:47And that is what being a great journalist is really about.
20:50Oh, I so appreciate that. And with that, I just want to say thank you so much again,
20:57Kristen Welker, the host of Meet the Press. We so appreciate your time and for joining us on
21:03this edition of Black Women in the News. Melissa, thank you so much. It's such a great conversation.
21:09Wonderful to be with you. I really loved it. Thank you.
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