NBC News anchor and father of WNBC anchor Stefan Holt, Lester Holt was honored by the National Association of Black Journalists as 2016 Journalist of the Year last night.
Neither had far to go to attend the event since it was held at 30 Rock. Stefan anchors the NBC-owned station’s 4 p.m. newscast.
In his speech, Holt underscored the importance of having a diverse newsroom.
“When we sit in our editorial meetings every afternoon at ‘Nightly News,’ that diversity of race, culture and sexual identity – all of those things come into place when we start discussing news of the day and everybody can bring something to the table,” said Holt. “That just simply makes us better journalists. So, I want to applaud NABJ for what the organization continues to do, it’s incredibly vital.”
The elder Holt ended the night by grabbing his bass guitar and anchoring his band the 30 Rockers as they played a set list that included Gimme Shelter by the Rolling Stones, Van Morrison’s Wild Night, Lonely is the Night by Billy Squier and Jane by Jefferson Starship.
“Lester is perhaps the hardest working person in this building and maybe the hardest working person in television journalism,” said NBCUniversal CEO Stephen Burke.