Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker received the Television Broadcast Award from the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association during its annual dinner at the National Press Club on Monday.
In her acceptance remarks, Welker underscored the importance of diverse perspectives in the news media and reflected on her journey as a journalist of color and her efforts to set an example for future generations of reporters from all different backgrounds.
“Growing up in Philadelphia – and reporting and serving as an anchor there before joining NBC News – I learned a lot about the importance of seeing people on TV that looked like me – people that had undergone experiences like the ones I had,” said Welker. “I think that growing up having women and women of color to look up to made me who I am today – Andrea Mitchell, Gwen Ifill, Carol Simpson, and others who helped pave the way with their work.
We underestimate the power of example – of showing new generations what’s possible and striving to create a legacy that they are proud to continue building on.”
Welker then discussed the heavy news cycle we find ourselves in, in addition to the upcoming presidential election campaign season.
“We have an unprecedented need for news coverage that distills these immensely complex developments,” said Welker. “But more importantly, we need coverage that seeks to bring our deeply divided factions to the same table … to begin to sew back together the threads of division that have caused what too many Americans feel is a standoff in which two sides have stopped talking … and stopped listening.
That begins with diversifying the perspectives and people who deliver our news.”