Alissa Krinsky
TVNewser Contributor
Fox News Channel religion correspondent Lauren Green is covering Pope Benedict XVI’s U.S. visit, which begins today. Green, who says she was named religion correspondent after expressing her “interest and passion for the subject”, was the first on-air person hired at FNC in 1996. She came to the network from Chicago’s WBBM-TV, and previously worked at KSTP-TV in Minneapolis. Green, a concert pianist, is a former Miss Minnesota and a graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.
1. TVNewser: Preparing for coverage of a Papal visit to the U.S. is…
Green: …very consuming. There are six days to cover and at least two major events for five of them. Then add to that the fact that this Pope is a scholar and an incredible theologian, who’s written a veritable library of material. So being a religion correspondent, I must not only read a great deal of what he has written, but read what has been written about him. So I may officially put in a full day of work in the office, but the reading and researching spill well into my nights and weekends. So I, and several producers have been working for the last few months interviewing a variety of clergy and lay people about what they know of this pope and what is likely to say to the American people and to the world when he comes to the United States.
2. TVNewser: Viewer feedback on my religion reporting has been:
Green: Quite positive so far. I get lots of suggestions from viewers about stories they find interesting. And I think because this is a relatively new field for television journalism, we’re finding our way in terms of what works and what doesn’t in reporting of religion of religion. If there’s one thing that gets people more riled up than politics, it’s religion. Religion strikes at the heart of who we are. While politics aims more at what we do.
3. TVNewser: Joining Fox News Channel at its very inception was…
Green: Exciting for the most part. I never ever doubted that this network would be successful. Fox just seemed destined to succeed. If you’ve ever had a conversation with [Fox News Chairman and CEO] Roger Ailes, you’d know why that’s true.
I was the first on air talent hired. It might be just a matter of timing. I happened to be in New York City interviewing when they were looking for anchors and reporters. I was quite flattered they offered me a position, although I was apprehensive switching to cable when I’d been at a network-owned station in Chicago. And the first few months were a bit rough. We weren’t on in New York City yet so that was disappointing. But again, I never doubted we would eventually make it on in the Big Apple and then beyond.
4. TVNewser: I’ve been successful in two different fields — music and journalism — because:
Green: First of all, I would say I’ve been successful in journalism, and because of that I’ve been able to support my first love, music. I consider myself an amateur pianist.
And there are many like me who have professional day jobs and then pursue music on the side. These people are doctors, lawyers, scientists…I even know one who’s an Ambassador to the United Nations. Some of us give concerts and recitals, or play chamber music with professionals. We experience the joy of our passion, without having the pressure of having to earn a living at it. And it makes music a great comfort.
And music actually makes me a better journalist, I think. There’s a depth of emotion and human experience that comes through music, and sometimes it can be translated into the written word. My music background has given me insight not only into the world, but also into the depths my own soul.
5. TVNewser: What it means to me to have been the first black Miss Minnesota:
Green: My family is extremely proud of me having been Miss Minnesota. I didn’t think it was that great a deal. It was such an honor just to be Miss Minnesota. I never really put it in terms of race. It was just such a wonderful experience to represent my home state in the Miss America Pageant. I think that’s an accomplishment that I will keep with me forever.