In a media industry where African American national news anchors are few, Lester Holt is an exception. He’s been on the news scene for 30 years, hosting Dateline NBC and serving as a coanchor of the Today show.
Whether it’s interviewing Sheryl Sandberg of Facebook or the explosive R. Kelly, Gayle King is a game-changer when it comes to news reporting. She’s also a trailblazer for Black representation in the media.
Lester Holt
If you’re a TV watcher, chances are Lester Holt is someone you’ve come to trust. The 63-year-old California native has been anchoring NBC Nightly News since 2015 and also hosts “Dateline NBC,” delving into intriguing stories that capture the nation’s attention. He’s the emblem of integrity in journalism and has remained unflinching behind the desk over the years.
The former New York Times journalist and Simmons College graduate has covered some of the country’s – and world’s – most important news events as a reporter and anchor. She’s reported from war zones in Afghanistan and Iraq, anchored during natural disasters and terrorist attacks, and moderated political debates.
In 2019, she launched a new series on black dateline host News platforms, “Justice for All,” putting a spotlight on criminal justice issues like mass incarceration. She’s landed several high-profile interviews with people affected by the issue, including rapper Meek Mill and Cyntoia Brown-Long after their release from prison.
Hoda Kotb
Kotb, 59, began her career in broadcasting after graduating from Virginia Tech with a degree in journalism. She worked at local stations in Mississippi, Illinois and Florida before settling in with a CBS affiliate in New Orleans. Her work at the station caught the attention of NBC executives in 1998, and she became a correspondent for Dateline NBC, where she reported on global tragedies including Hurricane Katrina and the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Her reporting earned her four Emmy nominations and a Peabody Award.
In 2007, Kotb was diagnosed with breast cancer, which she treated successfully. She allowed Today (1952) cameras to follow her through the treatment process, and she has since become a vocal advocate for women’s health issues. She has also hosted a syndicated show called Your Total Health and been nominated for several Daytime Emmy Awards.
Following the firing of Matt Lauer, NBC named Kotb as co-host of Today alongside Savannah Guthrie. This decision was largely well-received, and the pair have garnered a solid following in their time together. In addition to the morning show, Kotb has been a frequent substitute host of The Early Show and has filled in for several network-related specials.
Kenny Melvin
Kenny Melvin was a dedicated and talented journalist with a passion for telling stories that mattered. His work was recognized on many levels, and he had a unique ability to connect with people. He was a compassionate man, and his love for his family and friends was unmatched. He will be missed by many.
His first job out of college was at an NBC affiliate in Columbia, South Carolina. He started out as a news photographer and eventually worked his way up to anchoring the weekday newscast for the station and hosting his own series. Later, he went on to anchor NBC’s Sunday Night Newscast, Dateline NBC, and MSNBC.
He covered all the major events in his time at NBC, including presidential national conventions, election nights, tornadoes, and mass shootings. He also moderated a presidential debate and has interviewed countless celebrities. His work on the show has earned him multiple Emmys and a Walter Cronkite Award.
Savannah Guthrie
Savannah Guthrie started her career as a broadcast journalist, working for NBC affiliates in Missouri, Arizona, and Washington, DC. She later earned a law degree at Georgetown University and became a legal correspondent for Court TV and NBC News. She also substituted for Meredith Vieira and Ann Curry on Today, and was paired with Hoda Kotb in the morning slot after Matt Lauer was fired from the program in 2017.
Guthrie joined Dateline NBC in 2004 as a national trial correspondent, where she covered high-profile cases such as the Supreme Court confirmation hearings of Samuel Alito, the Carlie Brucia murder trial, and the Michael Jackson child molestation case. She also conducted multiple celebrity interviews for the show, including one with Meryl Streep.
Guthrie is currently the co-host of NBC’s Today show, as well as serving as a White House correspondent and MSNBC’s The Daily Rundown. She is married to media consultant Mike Feldman and has a daughter named Vale. Recently, she shared a behind-the-scenes photo of herself with her Today colleagues on Instagram. In the photo, fans were intrigued by the coffee table that sat next to Guthrie’s chair, which was cluttered with various hand sanitizers and other cleaning products.
Jill Roberts
Jill Roberts is the host of ‘Dateline NBC,’ the flagship newsmagazine for NBC. The show has been airing since 1992 and features frequent specials that explore unique stories that don’t always fit into a one or two-hour television broadcast. In addition to hosting ‘Dateline,’ Roberts also hosts a weekly podcast on true crime stories that require more in-depth coverage.
Jill is far from the innocent victim presented at first. She is in fact a fame-hungry sociopath who resents Sidney’s rise to celebrity status. As such, she plans on framing her ex-boyfriend Trevor Sheldon for the murders and taking her own place in the spotlight.
Jill begins her reign of terror by stabbing Deputy Hoss in the back and Deputy Riley in the forehead while wearing a Ghostface costume outside the house. She then calls Sidney and taunts her about Gale before stabbing her in the arm as she and Kate are being escorted to the hospital. Jill then meets with Charlie Walker and convinces him to help her kill Deputy Sheldon. She also tries to lure Trevor into her trap by calling him and taunting him. Jill and Charlie eventually kill Trevor and hurl his body off the roof of an abandoned parking structure.
Chris Louis
In his career, he’s reported thousands of stories, but there are some that demand more time and space than can be provided in a one- or two-hour television segment. That’s why he decided to create the Dateline NBC podcast, where he can go deeper in these standout cases.
His work on the podcast has helped him build a dedicated following. He’s tackled a range of topics, from revealing alleged fraud in Obamacare to supporting vendors facing backlash for refusing to serve gay customers. In addition to tackling big stories, he also takes the time to respond to tweets from viewers and delve into social issues that he believes need more attention.
His life motto, “Fear stops where faith begins,” has guided him in his professional and philanthropic endeavors. He’s also a seasoned political activist who has a strong background in grassroots campaigning and advocacy. Previously, he served as the Virginia state director for GenerationEngage and worked on Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign. He currently lives in Alexandria, Virginia. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Government from Harvard University and has narrated a documentary regarding actual crystal skulls on the Investigation Discovery network. In addition, he has hosted a number of Dateline NBC specials.
Josh Mankiewicz
Josh Mankiewicz is the correspondent for Dateline NBC, which has been running since February 1995. He covers a mix of breaking news stories, news analysis, and investigative reports for the show. He is also the host of two Dateline NBC podcasts, Missing in America and Motive for Murder. He has also narrated a documentary about actual crystal skulls for the History Channel and served as a sportsdesk reporter for NBC Sports.
As a longtime Dateline correspondent, Mankiewicz has reported on thousands of cases over the years. He doesn’t play favorites with the stories he covers, but there are some that he feels deserve more attention and explanation than they can get in a one-hour TV segment. That’s why he decided to launch the Dateline NBC podcasts.
He has already recorded a number of episodes, including a special on the case of Black man George Floyd. Another upcoming episode looks at the warning signs that were ignored by the police in the fatal police encounter of Anton Black. These shows are all part of the current boom in true crime that has captivated audiences across America. It’s a genre that has seen many new shows and conventions like CrimeCon, where fans can indulge their obsession with murder and mayhem.
