There are a record number of female candidates running for office. These women are poised to change the balance of power across the three branches of the government. CNN’s Brooke Baldwin joined the campaign trail and released “American Women in Politics” to give viewers a first-hand glimpse at some of the women making this year’s election unprecedented. I spoke to Baldwin to learn about her career path and advice as well as what she learned from creating the five-part series.
How did you end up at CNN? What was your career path?
CNN was just a glimmer in my eye when I was growing up in Atlanta. I graduated from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill with degrees in journalism and Spanish in 2001 and landed my first on-air job in Charlottesville, Va. I got promoted to weekend morning anchor which meant I was going to work at 2 a.m. on the weekend. I was a one-woman newsroom overnight, writing and editing my one-hour show, back-timing it from my anchor desk and rolling the teleprompter with my foot. Oh yes, I did. Then I moved to Charleston-Huntington, W.Va as a morning anchor…then to Washington D.C. at a local TV station as a crime and features reporter. My next move was to CNN – first in Atlanta before moving to New York. I joined CNN ten years ago – initially as a correspondent. And this October marks eight years anchoring my two-hour show!
What is a workday like? Please walk me through a day!
What a whirlwind news climate we’re living in and my show falls smack dab in the middle of the afternoon when news tends to break, often blowing up my show and forcing producers to blank my teleprompter while I adlib the latest development as production assistants are running me the latest information.
Each weekday morning I’m up – reading, reading, reading. Then I jump on the phone with my executive producer for our first call of the day to make sure we’re on the same page regarding what we think should be included in our two-hour show – knowing full well much of what we discuss could disappear given the fast-nature of this news cycle. I then work out five mornings a week. Feeling physically strong in the morning truly helps me keep focused the rest of the day. I then arrive at CNN and jump straight into hair and makeup – often with my head sopping wet – that is truly the “magic room.” That’s also when my producer briefs me in person on which guests we’ve booked and which segments we can begin working on [because] we start from scratch every day.
Then for the next three hours, I’m in my office working through every single segment. Most of the questions you hear me ask on TVare questions I’ve written in that time after reading up on each subject and [each] guest’s perspective. I know I need to know my stuff – and I find if I write my questions myself, I will. That said, I have an incredible team – writers, producers and guest bookers – who all weigh in and support me each and every day. The challenge is that the majority of them are based at CNN in Atlanta – meaning there are even more emails, phone calls and messages exchanged in a day. Then around ten minutes until 2 p.m., I change out of my jeans and sneakers and into a suit or dress. My set is in the middle of the newsroom, steps from my office and away we go!
What was the inspiration for launching “American Women in Politics.” What have you learned from the experience so far?
Throughout the 2016 presidential election, I listened. At debates and rallies, I heard women’s voices clearly and felt compelled to do something more. Thousands and thousands of women spoke with confidence and conviction. They were women of all ages, backgrounds and ethnicities and all political persuasions. Yes, so many of them were hoping for history to be made: the first female president. But when that didn’t happen, I asked myself, “Where will all these women go?”
I had a hunch something significant was about to happen as women were speaking out and showing up in record numbers. From the stage at the Women’s March in Washington D.C. the following January, where I witnessed the collective strength of those who traveled great distances to be seen and heard, it was overwhelming. And, personally, it was crystal clear: The next chapter of my career would focus on women. That’s how I got the idea for season one of “American Women in Politics.” Season two just made sense involving women running for office as midterms are right around the corner!
What have I learned? That I could do entire hour-long episodes if I was granted the landscape. There are just so many badass women’s stories to be told. Political or otherwise.
How do you think we can increase the number of female politicians?
It’s already happening right now. I talked to Stephanie Schriock, the president of EMILY’s List, and she told me that since the presidential election and the Women’s March, 36,000 women have expressed an interest in running for some sort of office. 36,000! There are records being broken as far as women running for office. It is incredible what’s already happening.
What is your best advice for journalists who hope to go into broadcast news?
Learn how to do everything. Write, produce, shoot, edit and report. So even if you know what you want to do – you will understand the whole process. Also, if you’re a reporter, listen to your photographers especially. They were like Yoda to me as I was working in local news. They are a wealth of knowledge on all kinds of things and can make you better. And above all – listen (put the phone down, make eye contact and really engage) and don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions. Be curious.
What is one thing that you wish you had known when you were starting out your career?
My career has always been a priority. But when you’re moving around all through your 20s and unsure of where you’re going next, I wish someone could have whispered in my ear: “Chill out. You’re going to get to CNN. You’re going to meet your husband a little later…at age 36. But all of your years of paying your dues will pay off in the end. Try to enjoy the ride.”
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
You can’t always have to go after it…sometimes you have to sit back and let life come to you.
What is your career advice for other young professional women?
Really get to know yourself. Journal. Be comfortable being alone. Travel. Climb a mountain. Get a dog. Be okay with feeling a little uncomfortable. It’s those moments that will really make you who you are – in work and life. And when you’ve found your path…help other women find theirs.
