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Chuck Roberts, BJ '71

Why did you choose the Missouri School of Journalism?
I grew up in Missouri, so coming to the oldest and best journalism school in the country was an easy choice for me. I was always interested in journalism because I loved reporting and storytelling. I guess I got the journalism bug when Kennedy was assassinated. I took a bus downtown to buy out-of-state newspapers as I wanted to see how other reporters covered the story. I was also impressed how television covered the events during that time. I was infected at that moment with zeal of reporting and I knew at that moment I wanted to be a journalist.

What was it like attending the Journalism School during the Vietnam War?
The campus was in ferment. There was certainly a lot of activism here. I remember vividly going to a lecture with CBS correspondent Marvin Kalb (Marvin Kalb has more than 30 years of broadcast experience and served as chief diplomatic correspondent for CBS News and NBC News, and as moderator of "Meet the Press") in Jesse Hall. Jesse Hall was filled with students wanting to listen, but halfway through the lecture, you could hear the demonstrations outside. One person raised his hand and asked Marvin Kalb if he were a student at Mizzou at this time, would he be at the lecture or outside protesting? He took the longest time to reply and said, "I think I would be outside protesting." At this point everyone left Jesse Hall to go to the protest.

QuickTime Video: Chuck Roberts discusses the development of News Source during coverage of Hurricane Hugo. File Size = 510K

QuickTime Video: Chuck Roberts discusses the lasting impact of a Missouri Journalism education. File Size = 452K

Did the war activities influence you as a journalist?
It was an amazing time, and the war protests prepared me to be able to cover future events. There was a lot of leafleting and rallies on campus. On May 4, 1970, members of Kent State's ROTC were involved in a noontime demonstration. There were protests and guardsmen opened fire. Four students were killed and nine were injured. Later there was a large rally on Mizzou's campus on the day of the National Commemoration of the Kent State massacre. There was a call around the nation for campuses to shut down for one day. The University of Missouri decided to stay open and caused a lot of uproar on campus. I remember the rally on Francis Quadrangle vividly. Upwards of ten thousand in full-throated protest and a few hundred blocked the Dean of Students from leaving his office. There were bomb threats. I learned a lot about news from all of this.

What are some trends you notice in broadcast from the 1970s to today?
Before, most reporters were general assignment reporters and reported on topics all over the news spectrum. Today there are so many tributaries to go into, whether it is a medical correspondent, entertainment, or sports. There are so many opportunities to specialize in the field. At the same time, local news isn't quite as important as it was. The news demands so much more of reporters than it ever did before. Multitasking is a term we didn't know about in the early '70s. Now a lot of reporters are going out solo on stories and doing all aspects of broadcast by themselves.

How much power do you have over the stories CNN Headline News does?
I have surprisingly little power as the anchor at CNN, but I have input. I weigh in when I see a story I think we should cover. More often than not, if I pitch a story, it will appear on Headline News because I have recommended it. Sometimes I have to make a decision about a story while the show is in progress. It might be some wrong information that is about to air, or some fact that is misquoted. Decisions that are made during the show can add some last minute stressful situations. I have to make that decision quickly, sometimes live. I want to keep things consistent. It's part of my job.

Why do you think the percentage of TV viewing is on the decline?
The audience is shrinking for traditional news. Network news has been on the decline for decades. It could level off, but we don't know how and when. Cable news still has a small growth curve, but the Internet is robbing us alive. Younger viewers are not getting news from television anymore. I don't know the answer to solve the problem, but this trend will certainly affect all of our careers.

What is your favorite part of journalism?
Every day is completely different. You have to rise to a new challenge everyday, and you don't know what is coming next. You have to meet that challenge. No two days are alike. It's a thrill to go in and slay the beast of the day. You have to be able to handle the unexpected, from breaking news to ad-libbing. You have to compose a story as though you were at a typewriter, but through the lens of a camera. It's very stressful, but also very rewarding.