As a special guest lecturer, Eyewitness News anchor Lori Stokes told Tenafly high school students to prepare for the future because "competition out there is fierce."
The Northern Valley resident described her rise to the No. 1 media market, beginning with her high school cheerleading days and unwelcome "bumps along the way" as a college student at Ohio State University. In an interview shortly thereafter, Stokes revealed her hub of excitement surrounding the presidential elections, her secret to juggling parenthood and a successful career, in addition to her dreams for the future.
This is the third in a series of Suburbanite features during Black History Month, profiling the lives of prominent black community members.
Q: You had said that you embarked upon your journalistic career as a medical reporter and weekend anchor in Illinois in the late 1980s. From that self-assigned beat, you were the first to report an outbreak of tuberculosis in the area. As the daughter of U.S. Congressman Louis Stokes, politics would seem a more likely beat. Why medicine?
You had said that you embarked upon your journalistic career as a medical reporter and weekend anchor in Illinois in the late 1980s. From that self-assigned beat, you were the first to report an outbreak of tuberculosis in the area. As the daughter of U.S. Congressman Louis Stokes, politics would seem a more likely beat. Why medicine?
A: Well, this is the thing. When I first went there, it was my first job anchoring and reporting. And it was really tough to get the lead story, or the sexy stories, or to get in the first block of a newscast.
Well, this is the thing. When I first went there, it was my first job anchoring and reporting. And it was really tough to get the lead story, or the sexy stories, or to get in the first block of a newscast.
I couldn’t get seen and it was frustrating to me. So I had to figure out how can I get some stories on the air that mattered and that are going to be in that first block. The only thing I can think of was medicine. I think that hospitals have always felt like nobody cares what they’re doing. So, I would call up the public relations departments of all these hospitals.
It was my vehicle to get the hot stories. I found that people were so receptive to it. And when they called me about that tuberculosis story, it was just dynamite.
Q: You have covered a ton of hard-hitting stories during your career. You exposed yourself to the realities of being homeless as an undercover homeless woman in Baltimore. You reported world-breaking news such as the Columbine massacre, the Oklahoma City bombing and 9/11. But as I noted from your involvement with various charitable organizations, you seem to have an interest in issues relating to women and children. When it comes down to it, which subject would you rather cover as a reporter?
You have covered a ton of hard-hitting stories during your career. You exposed yourself to the realities of being homeless as an undercover homeless woman in Baltimore. You reported world-breaking news such as the Columbine massacre, the Oklahoma City bombing and 9/11. But as I noted from your involvement with various charitable organizations, you seem to have an interest in issues relating to women and children. When it comes down to it, which subject would you rather cover as a reporter?
A: Well, I think that politics still really does it for me. I just love getting in there. I have just been so excited to see how all people - all ages, colors, races and people crossing political lines that they’ve been allegiant to forever. Young people finally are excited about the election.
Well, I think that politics still really does it for me. I just love getting in there. I have just been so excited to see how all people - all ages, colors, races and people crossing political lines that they’ve been allegiant to forever. Young people finally are excited about the election.
I mean, I always will be involved with different organizations. I think it’s something that if I can raise my voice to it, if I can put my face to some of these organizations and help them get a little bit more, then that’s a beautiful thing and I’m proud and happy to do it.
The arts I like a lot, you know my children have been very involved when it was John Harms Center and now is bergenPAC, of course. But I would say, that when it comes to just day-to-day issues of reporting, then to me, I love the political stuff.
Q: You had listed names of famous people that you had met working as a reporter and/or sharing the same studio with the Regis and Kelly show: John McCain, Florence Henderson and your favorite artist Sting. Is there anyone that you would like to interview that you have not?
You had listed names of famous people that you had met working as a reporter and/or sharing the same studio with the Regis and Kelly show: John McCain, Florence Henderson and your favorite artist Sting. Is there anyone that you would like to interview that you have not?
A: You know what, I’ve always wanted to interview the first ladies. I have interviewed Hillary [Rodham Clinton]. But, I think that all of them are required to take on such different roles. Some who are really smart women, forced to be the silent partner, the really smart women who opened their mouths and are criticized and then there are the ones that didn’t want to have anything to do with any of it. I just think that they are the people that we just never really know because they’re not allowed to show who they really are.
You know what, I’ve always wanted to interview the first ladies. I have interviewed Hillary [Rodham Clinton]. But, I think that all of them are required to take on such different roles. Some who are really smart women, forced to be the silent partner, the really smart women who opened their mouths and are criticized and then there are the ones that didn’t want to have anything to do with any of it. I just think that they are the people that we just never really know because they’re not allowed to show who they really are.
[Actress and singer] Lena Horne is someone that I’ve always wanted to interview because she is just so sharp. And because of her staying power and because she came from a time when, for black actresses, she was not black enough to play black and then she was too black to play - you know.
Q: When you do step up on television, do you realize that there are millions of people watching on the other end?
When you do step up on television, do you realize that there are millions of people watching on the other end?
A: No, I don’t. It’s taken me a long time to speak in front of people. I’ve always been very fearful of that. I’ve always been very comfortable with a lens in front of me and knowing people [are] out there, but not actually have to see them. It’s taken me years to really combat it, to take a deep breath and just go.
No, I don’t. It’s taken me a long time to speak in front of people. I’ve always been very fearful of that. I’ve always been very comfortable with a lens in front of me and knowing people [are] out there, but not actually have to see them. It’s taken me years to really combat it, to take a deep breath and just go.
Q: Are you constantly questioning yourself in your work as a journalist?
Are you constantly questioning yourself in your work as a journalist?
A: I was pretty young when I started anchoring. They had this consultant come in who put shoulder pads [on me]. She had all this makeup on and my hair was fluffed to make me look older. And you come to a place after, where not only are you accepting of yourself, but you are sort of demanded of your audience. They feel it when you don’t know who you are. I have found that if you are yourself, if you’re inquisitive, if you don’t take no for an answer, if you just want to get to the bottom of a story - that’s all it’s really about. It’s accepting that you’re human and that you have flaws and faults. And that’s when you got [the viewer], when you’re endearing to them.
I was pretty young when I started anchoring. They had this consultant come in who put shoulder pads [on me]. She had all this makeup on and my hair was fluffed to make me look older. And you come to a place after, where not only are you accepting of yourself, but you are sort of demanded of your audience. They feel it when you don’t know who you are. I have found that if you are yourself, if you’re inquisitive, if you don’t take no for an answer, if you just want to get to the bottom of a story - that’s all it’s really about. It’s accepting that you’re human and that you have flaws and faults. And that’s when you got [the viewer], when you’re endearing to them.
Q: What are the biggest challenges to journalists?
What are the biggest challenges to journalists?
A: I think that [it is] the blurred line between what is pure news and what is entertainment. I think that many people would turn on Entertainment Tonight and think they’re watching the news. At the same time, our hands are almost tied in that we too as journalists are obligated to cover Britney Spears. But does Britney really affect the average viewer’s life? No. At the end of the day, I’m more concerned about my kids’ education and my price of gas and when are these crazy sales going to happen at a store.
I think that [it is] the blurred line between what is pure news and what is entertainment. I think that many people would turn on Entertainment Tonight and think they’re watching the news. At the same time, our hands are almost tied in that we too as journalists are obligated to cover Britney Spears. But does Britney really affect the average viewer’s life? No. At the end of the day, I’m more concerned about my kids’ education and my price of gas and when are these crazy sales going to happen at a store.
Q: In talking about your role as a mother, what do you do when you have to go live on air to cover a story, but you have your child call and say, "Mommy, I’m sick." How do you do it?
In talking about your role as a mother, what do you do when you have to go live on air to cover a story, but you have your child call and say, "Mommy, I’m sick." How do you do it?
A: Today was a perfect example. My youngest called me, that she had a headache. I have a great support system that a friend can run down and pick up one of my children. And their dad is a great help too. I’m so fearful that if I don’t stop, if I take a rest and I don’t keep going, it’s done. It’s like your motor just shuts down and you need a jump-start so I just keep going.
Today was a perfect example. My youngest called me, that she had a headache. I have a great support system that a friend can run down and pick up one of my children. And their dad is a great help too. I’m so fearful that if I don’t stop, if I take a rest and I don’t keep going, it’s done. It’s like your motor just shuts down and you need a jump-start so I just keep going.
Q: Do you have any future plans? Is Channel 7 news where you want to stay?
Do you have any future plans? Is Channel 7 news where you want to stay?
A: The only other future plan that I would have is to have a cooking show. I enjoy cooking, I’m a pretty good cook. And it really, really gives me therapy. If I could swing that one, that would be the ultimate dream. And it has nothing to do with what I’ve been doing for a million years. I’ve done morning news, local [and] network. I’ve done everything there is to do. I’m happy right now, but I’m not sure that when I am 51 [that I will] want to wake up at 3:30 in the morning.
The only other future plan that I would have is to have a cooking show. I enjoy cooking, I’m a pretty good cook. And it really, really gives me therapy. If I could swing that one, that would be the ultimate dream. And it has nothing to do with what I’ve been doing for a million years. I’ve done morning news, local [and] network. I’ve done everything there is to do. I’m happy right now, but I’m not sure that when I am 51 [that I will] want to wake up at 3:30 in the morning.
E-mail: gonzalezso@northjersey.com or call 201-894-6711
