This fall, Maret welcomed award-winning journalist and ABC News’ Chief Global Affairs Correspondent Martha Raddatz P ’99, ’10 for an upper school assembly. Raddatz gave a frank, wide-ranging talk, engaging her audience with stories from her 30-plus years in journalism. She discussed her coverage of national and global news events, as well as politics and US presidential elections.

Raddatz has reported from the White House, the State Department, the Pentagon, and war zones around the world. But the story on this day was journalism itself. “Journalism has taken a huge hit over the years. I don’t think people understand the job of journalists anymore,” Raddatz told the audience. Since the outset of her career, Raddatz has seen tremendous change. In this age of mis/disinformation, it is more important than ever to know where to turn for facts you can trust. “It is as challenging for me as it is for you,” she acknowledged.

But that is where trained journalists come in. “Our job is not just the cliché of speaking truth to power—holding power accountable. It is giving you — giving Americans — the information you have a right to know.” She stressed the difference between reporters and political pundits or TikTokers: “I do not give my opinions. I can give analysis because I’ve seen it and breathed it for decades…. I cannot tell you who to vote for. Analysis and facts but not beyond that.”

When a student asked her what strategies she uses when she reports on policies she may disagree with, Raddatz spoke about getting people to talk on both sides of policies. She also said that she can report on policy effects. “I saw America go to war with Iraq. I saw the effects of that policy with my own eyes. I can report on that.”

In 2012 and 2016 Raddatz was in a unique position to help shed light on the problems, policies, and people at the center of the presidential elections. Drawing on her experience moderating the high-stakes vice presidential and presidential debates, she discussed the balance between challenging candidates and maintaining neutrality. But in the pressure-cooker environment of live television, it can be hard to get answers to tough questions: “Both sides come armed with talking points, and you try to get them off that.” She contrasted this with a story about a reporting trip to North Korea in 2018 during which her government minder asked her when the government gave her the questions to ask in the debates.

What does she think about moderators fact-checking during debates? Raddatz said that networks take different approaches. In 2012 and 2016 she let the candidates fact-check each other: “It is impossible to fact check everything. Not everyone agrees on what the facts are. You do not want to become the story as a moderator." 

Two students wanted to know about the role of local journalism. Raddatz, who started in local television news, noted that lead stories from local news organizations are different from those on network news. She emphasized the significance of local journalism, arguing that it forms the foundation of a well-informed citizenry. Raddatz encouraged students to stay engaged with local news and to be critical consumers of information. 

“Everything is local…. What is happening in your community is important to what is happening nationally.” With local news organizations struggling, communities lose important information. It is “absolutely vital that local reporting remain…. Local journalists do equally if not more important work than I do. That’s where it starts.” 

As a journalist out on the campaign trail, Raddatz looks forward to talking to voters across the country. She wants to find out why people believe what they do. She wants to tell the human stories. 

For her, “It is a joy to go out and vote and see other Americans involved.” Urging her upper school audience to become civically engaged, she said, “If you are bored or not involved, I would scold you on that.” In addition to voting, she spoke about the importance of talking to others to become better informed and better understand each other. 

One student asked how today’s attacks on the press affect her. “You go to rallies and they boo you. They tell you that you are the enemy of the people. We just have to continue to do what we do… and help people understand what [we] do.” Raddatz's visit inspired students to think critically and to consider the role they can play in shaping the future of journalism.

Martha Raddatz is ABC News’ chief global affairs correspondent and co-anchor of “This Week with George Stephanopoulos.” From 1993 to 1998, Raddatz was the Pentagon correspondent for National Public Radio (NPR). Prior to that, she was the chief correspondent at the ABC News Boston affiliate, WCVB-TV. Her many accolades include seven Emmy® Awards and a Peabody Award. Raddatz is also the author of The Long Road Home — A Story of War and Family (2008).