Lester Holt anchors the most-watched evening newscast in America. Since 2015 he has been heading “NBC Nightly News” and is the first African-American to anchor the broadcast. He is also the first to solo anchor a weekday network nightly newscast. Holt is the managing editor of the newscast and also leads NBC News’ special reports, breaking news, primetime political coverage, and anchors “Dateline NBC,” which is in its 31st season. Holt’s various honors include the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism in 2019, and in 2021 he received the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Lifetime Achievement Award from Washington State. Holt joined NBC News in 2000 and is known for his outstanding work in the field, reporting and anchoring from breaking news events across the globe. In 2016 he was selected to moderate the US Presidential debate. Holt was born in San Mateo County, CA in 1959. He majored in government at California State University, Sacramento, though he never graduated. He says his interest in journalism began in college. "My first on-air job was actually as a disc jockey at a Country and Western station. The only time I could land a full-time gig was if I was willing to report the news." He worked at CBS for 19 years as a reporter, anchor, and international correspondent. His experience included work as a reporter at WCBS-TV in New York City and sister station KCBS-TV in Los Angeles as a reporter and weekend anchor. Holt went to MSNBC after 14 years at WBBM-TV in Chicago. Holt’s work has been recognized with numerous honors, including multiple Emmy Awards and a Robert F. Kennedy Journalism award. In June 2017, Holt was honored with Quinnipiac University’s Fred Friendly First Amendment Award. In April 2016, Holt received several notable designations: he was featured on TIME’s 100 Most Influential People list, The Hollywood Reporter’s Most Powerful People in New York list and was named “Journalist of the Year” by the National Association of Black Journalists. He was named to Variety’s New York Power List in September 2016. According to a 2018 poll, Holt was ranked as being the most trusted TV news anchor in America. Lester Holt 40 Years of Broadcasting
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NzU3OTQ=