These are America’s most influential journalists in 2024—the writers, broadcasters, and visual storytellers whose work commands attention, moves audiences, and holds the powerful to account. Their tenacious reporting and thought-provoking commentary have shed light on the most consequential issues facing society. Whether through daily coverage that keeps the public informed or deep dives that frame the national conversation, their journalism is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the forces shaping the United States and the world.
This distinguished group has had an outsized impact, using their platforms to uphold the highest standards of the profession. Their commitment to truth and transparency fortifies democracy itself. With uncompromising integrity and an unstinting commitment to their craft, these top journalists consistently go above and beyond, pursuing the facts wherever they lead—even when it means taking on elite institutions and entrenched interests. Their vital work safeguards the public’s right to know, giving voice to the voiceless and exposing injustice.
- Anderson Cooper – CNN
- Rachel Maddow – MSNBC
- Lester Holt – NBC
- David Muir – ABC News
- Sean Hannity – Fox News
- Jake Tapper – CNN
- Savannah Guthrie – NBC
- Martha Raddatz – ABC News
- Chris Wallace – Formerly Fox News, now CNN
- Norah O’Donnell – CBS News
The Top Journalists Defining America’s Media Landscape
Anderson Cooper
Anderson Cooper is a towering figure in modern broadcast journalism, bringing gravitas and a steadying presence to CNN’s coverage of the day’s biggest stories. The award-winning anchor and correspondent has spent over two decades at the vanguard of cable news, seamlessly navigating everything from political cycles and international conflicts to natural disasters and cultural shifts.
With a measured delivery and reputable brand of hard-hitting but fair questioning, Cooper has become the nation’s preeminent interviewer. His probing sit-downs with world leaders, politicians, celebrities, and other newsmakers are must-see television, drawing millions of viewers. Cooper has a rare talent for holding the powerful accountable with the utmost professionalism and intellectual rigor.
Respected across the ideological spectrum for his non-partisan approach, Cooper continues redefining what it means to be a modern news anchor in the digital age. His perspective remains an indispensable voice helping Americans make sense of the world.
Rachel Maddow
Rachel Maddow is a singular force in modern political journalism and commentary. As the host of MSNBC’s highest-rated show, The Rachel Maddow Show, she has immense sway in shaping national discourse and holding those in power accountable.
With her signature blend of intellectual curiosity, moral clarity, and quick wit, Maddow has cultivated a devoted following of viewers who tune in nightly for her keen analysis. Her scholarly yet accessible approach to complex policy issues and talent for contextualizing current events have made her a preeminent voice on the American left.
As the highest-profile openly gay news host in America, Maddow is also a prominent representative for the LGBTQ community. Her principled presence has helped blaze a trail for other openly queer voices in journalism and media. With a massive platform and passionate following, Maddow remains one of the most influential shapers of political reality in 2024.
Lester Holt
Lester Holt personifies the qualities of trustworthiness, gravitas, and unflappable professionalism that have defined the golden age of network news anchors. As the managing editor and anchor of the NBC Nightly News, he guides one of the most visible platforms in American journalism with equal parts authority and integrity.
Holt’s steady hand and reassuring presence have made him a consummate navigator of historic news cycles over the past decade. He has covered tectonic shifts in politics, society, and technology—from the COVID-19 pandemic and racial reckoning to bitter election controversies and the dawn of the AI era. Through it all, his calm and measured delivery offers a dependable constant for viewers.
The first Black anchor to solely lead a network nightly newscast, Holt shattered a major glass ceiling and opened doors for greater diversity in broadcast journalism. His trail-blazing career ascent represents the realization of hard-fought dreams previous generations could only imagine. Yet Holt wears this pioneering status gracefully, letting his work speak louder than symbolism.
David Muir
David Muir has solidified his status as the undisputed anchor of the broadcast news era. As the consummate face of ABC’s World News Tonight, he commands the largest audience in evening network television news. With his trusted brand of straightforward reporting and relatable demeanor, Muir has become an indispensable filter for major events shaping the nation.
While exuding Midwestern humility off-camera, Muir possesses an innate gravity that leaps off the screen nightly. His authoritative presence during moments of crisis or when breaking news unfolds is unparalleled in broadcast journalism. Time and again, viewers have turned to the calming voice and clarity of Muir’s seamless anchoring to make sense of everything from natural disasters and acts of terrorism to political upheaval and social unrest.
Muir has covered the entirety of the modern White House era, bearing witness to the consequential decisions of multiple administrations through dogged reporting. His tough but fair interviewing of U.S. presidents and world leaders exemplifies the best of the journalistic ethics: asking the probing questions America needs answered. Muir’s brand of truth-to-power accountability journalism resonates in an age of growing polarization and institutional distrust.
Sean Hannity
Sean Hannity is a titan of right-wing media, wielding a massive megaphone that holds sway over millions of conservative viewers and listeners. As the longstanding host of Fox News’ Hannity and The Sean Hannity Show on talk radio, he is arguably the most recognizable opinion leader on the political right.
With a loyal “Hannity viewer” fanbase hanging on his every provocative word, the pugnacious commentator and self-described working-class populist has become a celebrity ambassador for Republican politics and Trump-era grievance conservatism. His outspoken megaphone gives him direct influence in shaping the modern GOP’s messaging and championing the latest cultural flashpoints.
Hannity’s brand of prime time opinion programming blurs the lines between news analysis and hyper-partisan advocacy. He unapologetically defends former President Trump and other prominent Republicans, often running interference against scandals or allegations. Critics accuse Hannity of engaging in pro-Trump propaganda, while his loyalists laud his full-throated defense of conservative values.
Love him or hate him, Hannity is a media force to be reckoned with on the American right. As one of cable’s most lucrative primetime stars, his ability to move millions of conservative viewers makes him an undeniably influential voice in setting the temperature of the nation’s politics.
Jake Tapper
Jake Tapper stands out as one of the most respected and non-partisan voices holding politicians accountable across the partisan divide. As the anchor of CNN’s Sunday morning show State of the Union and chief Washington correspondent, Tapper has built a reputation as an equal-opportunity truth-seeker focused on facts over ideology.
With a sharp mind honed through years as a print journalist, Tapper approaches interviews as substantive interrogations, grilling guests with tenacious follow-ups and refusing to accept spin or prevarication. His prep work is peerless, allowing him to deftly navigate complex policy terrains from taxes to foreign affairs. This commitment to mastering subject matter before going on air lends Tapper’s questioning formidable credibility that’s difficult for sources to avoid or dismiss.
In an era of partisan media silos, Tapper remains a rare straight shooter whose very brand is grounded in a studious neutrality. He simply follows facts wherever they lead, an approach that has granted him access across the political spectrum. Republican and Democratic lawmakers alike still opt to appear on his shows, knowing Tapper will be tough but fundamentally fair in his line of questioning.
Savannah Guthrie
Savannah Guthrie has become the contemporary face of morning television news, ushering in a new era of hard-hitting yet inspirational storytelling. As co-anchor of NBC News’ Today show, she guides one of the most visible and influential platforms in American media with authentic warmth and relentless preparedness.
Guthrie deftly balances the many talents required of the modern morning show host – she is an empathetic storyteller and compassionate interviewer one moment, and a sharp-edged inquisitor holding politicians and other newsmakers accountable the next. Her versatility and comfort discussing everything from the latest policy debates to celebrity/pop culture interviews makes her a perfect ambassador for Today’s compelling mix of news, entertainment and lifestyle coverage.
But it’s her signature combination of steeliness and approachability that truly allows Guthrie to connect with millions of viewers each morning. Pairing moral courage with kindness, she can go toe-to-toe with world leaders and major celebrities in must-watch interviews and moments of truth-to-power journalism. Yet she maintains an inherent likeability and emotional intelligence that invites audiences into her interviews as a trustworthy guide.
Martha Raddatz
Martha Raddatz personifies the very best of modern television journalism’s bloodline of no-nonsense, globetrotting correspondents. As ABC News’ chief global affairs correspondent, she has stayed in the thick of the world’s biggest stories for over two decades, earning unimpeachable credibility through her courageous field reporting.
Whether covering conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq or Ukraine, Raddatz has routinely put herself in harm’s way to ensure Americans bear witness to the harsh ground realities of war. Her calm, steely composure and unflappable professionalism under fire have become signatures of her coverage from explosive hotspots. She refuses to flinch from telling difficult truths.
Raddatz rose through the ranks with the same fearless tenacity she exhibits while doggedly chasing leads as a foreign correspondent. A pioneer as one of the first women to cover the Pentagon full-time, she broke numerous stories exposing lapses and scandals that shook the military establishment over the years. Her reporting reflects a no-holds-barred willingness to confront uncomfortable facts.
Above all, Raddatz’s trademark is sober, unbiased truth-telling aimed at holding leaders accountable and centering the lived experiences of those on the frontlines, not partisan agendas. Her integrity as a fair arbiter comes through whether pressing both sides on Meet The Press or taking viewers into war-torn regions most correspondents avoid.
Chris Wallace
Chris Wallace represents the gold standard for incisive, nonpartisan interviewing in modern political journalism. Over a legendary career spanning more than five decades, the veteran broadcaster has earned a reputation as one of the toughest, most well-prepared and equitable questioners in the business.
Currently the anchor of CNN’s Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace? after prior storied tenures at NBC, ABC, and Fox News, Wallace commands a level of respect and access across ideological lines that remains unmatched. His reset to the ostensibly nonpartisan CNN allowed him to re-establish his brand as a straight shooter committed to facts over partisan framing.
What has always distinguished Wallace is his studious preparation and unrivaled mastery of policy minutiae across the full breadth of issues – from foreign affairs to economics to social policies. This comprehensive command of substance allows him to rapidly cut through prevarication and obfuscation from guests and bore down to the core of any controversy with clinical precision.
Norah O’Donnell
Norah O’Donnell represents the modern archetype of the hard-hitting, globetrotting news anchor equally adept at reporting from war zones as the distinguished air of the CBS Evening News studio. Her combination of grit, gravitas and academic curiosity has made her one of the most respected and visible figures in broadcast journalism.
As the managing editor and anchor of the CBS Evening News, O’Donnell guides the iconic broadcast with a steady hand and commitment to cutting through political spin and partisan noise. Her tough but fair interrogation of U.S. presidents, world leaders and other power brokers reflects the best of the journalistic ethos of holding the powerful accountable.
What sets O’Donnell apart is her keen intellect and ferocious work ethic. She is a studious overachiever consumed with mastering the context and nuances surrounding every story and interview subject. This tireless preparation allows her to organically drill down into substantive policy terrain with nuanced follow-ups that flummox dissembling guests.
Her appetite for being at the center of the action is also unmistakable. O’Donnell has spent months embedded with U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghan war zones, repeatedly risking her own safety to capture critical footage and frontline perspectives. This dedication to rigorous field reporting has cultivated credibility and access that few peers can match.
With an influential perch atop CBS News and clout that transcends partisan bickering, O’Donnell remains an indispensable voice upholding journalistic integrity. Her passion for facts over punditry makes her brand of truth-telling a vital tonic for an era of political polarization and media silos.
