I will share what I’ve told several times over the years: that a Duke professor named David Paletz had an enormous influence on me, on my decision to pursue journalism. It was the fall of 1968 and 20-year-old me was discouraged that after two summers working as a Congressional intern in Washington, the guidance I’d been given was not to return to D.C. I had envisioned a job in government but was advised that as a woman, the best I could hope for was coffee girl. When I shared this with Professor Paletz, he asked if I’d ever considered covering politics, becoming a news reporter. This planted a seed that grew through the rest of my senior year. The following spring I applied for a job at a half dozen TV news outlets in Atlanta. The job I landed, as newsroom secretary, or glorified coffee girl, at the ABC affiliate was of course what I wanted to avoid in D.C.(!) but it soon led to reporting. Five decades later, I’m beyond grateful to Professor Paletz for setting me on the course that’s led to such a fulfilling career, one I’m still pursuing. David is the perfect reminder that teachers shape lives!
Senior correspondent and the former anchor and managing editor of the PBS News Hour.