Why One Expat Loves PBS NewsHour

Judy Woodruff and Sara Just (Photo by Robert Merhaut)

Living in Paris, I can’t get U.S. news in real time at a reasonable hour, so when I rise in the morning, I tend to the coffee press and my computer to pull up the previous night’s broadcast of PBS NewsHour with Judy Woodruff.

Unlike her flashy counterparts — NBC Nightly News and ABC World New Tonight — PBS NewsHour doesn’t try to pull us in with dramatic music or sound bites. Judy Woodruff and her team deliver the news of the day with quality in-depth interviews and analyses which provoke deeper thought. Even the salacious and frivolous Will Smith slap was covered with an analysis of Black pain and the racial significance of the moment.

One thing I really appreciate about this show is that it centers the experiences of people of color from multiple dimensions. Their stories aren’t just about the unrelenting victimization and injustices brought against people of color. We hear stories like the one about Black-owned book stores adapting to virtual sales during the pandemic, or a piece on the highest-ranking African-American in the history of the car industry.

PBS NewsHour is also an outstanding showcase of women in journalism and politics. Judy Woodruff, Lisa DeJardin, Amna Nawaz, and Stephanie Sy lead every broadcast with tough questions and meaningful insights. “Politics Monday” is a weekly in-depth conversation with Judy, Tamara Keith, and Amy Walter about the current political winds. Not to mention their former White House correspondent, Yamiche Alcindor, who has gone on to become the moderator of Washington Week. This powerhouse lineup of women truly inspires.

It’s almost comical how many conversations I have that include the statement, “I saw on PBS NewsHour. . .” But I am a smarter, more informed person because of it!