Lester Holt

About

Lester Holt is a renowned American journalist and news anchor, best known as the lead anchor for NBC's weekday edition of "NBC Nightly News" and "Dateline NBC". Born on March 8, 1959, in California, his journalism career spans over four decades. He started at CBS in 1981 and joined NBC in 2000. Throughout his career, Holt has covered significant news events and political elections. He famously moderated the first Presidential debate in the 2016 elections. Holt's work has earned him multiple prestigious awards, including multiple Emmy AwardsAnnual awards recognizing excellence in the television industry, presented by the Academy of Televis... and a Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award.

Associated With

Lester Holt, the respected anchor of “NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt,” and “Dateline NBC,” has numerous associations across the television and news industry. Over his career, he has collaborated with colleagues including Brian Williams, Matt Lauer, and Savannah Guthrie, among others. Holt has also interviewed numerous notable figures across various industries, from politics to entertainment. His work in the industry often sees him associated with other influential media personnel from NBC and competitors. Holt's professional relationships, however, extend beyond news anchors; they include producers, directors, journalists, and technical teams that help bring his broadcasts to life. In terms of personal life, Holt is married to Carol Hagen, and their private life tends to stay out of the media spotlight. There's no public record of Holt having any profound involvement in the acting industry or dating any other media personality. He is noted for his professionalism, humility, and journalistic integrity.

Career Highlights

• 1981: Lester Holt began his career as a reporter for WCBS-TV in New York.
• 1982-1986: He spent four years at KCBS-TV in Los Angeles where he became a weekend anchor and reporter.
• 1986-2000: Holt moved to WBBM-TV in ChicagoAn American musical with music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and a book by Ebb and Bob Fosse. ... where he spent 14 years anchoring the evening news.
• 2000: He joined MSNBC as a full-time anchor.
• 2003: He stepped in as a substitute for the 'Weekend Today' anchor, becoming a popular substitute anchor over time.
• 2005: Lester started anchoring 'Dateline NBC' regularly.
• 2007: His hard work at NBC saw Holt receiving the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism award.
• 2010: Lester Holt won an honorary Doctorate from Pepperdine University.
• 2012: Holt was part of the NBC team that won a Peabody award for the network's coverage of the 2012 Presidential Election.
• 2015: Following Brian Williams' suspension, Holt took over 'NBC Nightly News' as an interim anchor and on June 18, 2015, he was named the permanent anchor, making history as the first black person to solo anchor a weekday network nightly newscast.
• 2016: He moderated the first Presidential debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.
• 2019: Lester Holt received the prestigious Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism.

Notable Awards

• Lester Holt has been honored with several notable awards over his lengthy career in journalism. These include:
• Multiple Emmy Awards: Holt has received numerous Emmy Awards for his outstanding journalism work.
• Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award: This award honors those who report on issues that reflect Robert F. Kennedy's concerns like human rights, social justice, and the power of individual actionA film, television, or literary genre characterized by physical feats, including fights, chases, exp....
• Honorary Doctorate from Pepperdine University: Holt received an honorary doctorate from Pepperdine University for his contributions to journalism.
• The Fred Friendly First Amendment Award: Given to honor those who have shown courage and forthrightness in preserving First Amendment Rights.
• He was named Journalist of the Year in 2016 by the National Association of Black Journalists.
• Holt was also honored with the Leonard Zeidenberg First Amendment Award from the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) in 2019 for his contributions to press freedom.
• (Note: Awards and accolades are subject to change and might have increased after the information has been provided.)

FAQs

What Is the Most Popular Lester Holt Movie/TV Show?

Lester Holt is best known for his work in broadcasting journalism, particularly as the anchor for the weekday edition of "NBC Nightly News". He also carries the baton for "Dateline NBC", the network's flagship newsmagazine. Both shows have received enormous acclamation and offer deep-dive reporting and investigations that shed light on meaningful events and personal stories. It's worthy to note that Holt's contributions have led NBC Nightly News to garner prestigious journalism awards, enhancing its popularity among audiences. Therefore, in terms of popularity, "NBC Nightly News" and "Dateline NBC" could be considered some of Holt's most recognized work.

How Did Lester Holt Get Famous?

Lester Holt gained fame through his career in journalism, specifically in broadcast news. He began as a reporter for WCBS-TV in New York City, which helped him hone his skills as a journalist. This led to positions with other major networks in Los Angeles and Chicago. His big break came in 2000 when he joined MSNBC, where he became known for his coverage of significant news events such as the Iraq WarA genre concerned with warfare, typically about naval, air, or land battles, with strong themes of s.... In 2015, he achieved further prominence when he became the first African-American solo anchor of a weekday network nightly newscast upon his promotion to anchor of NBC Nightly News, replacing Brian Williams. His steady, calm demeanor and objective reporting style have contributed to his renown.