Front Row Seat to History with Stephanie Elam

On September 19, Marlborough Ultraviolet and Violet TV students welcomed accomplished broadcast journalist and CNN correspondent Stephanie Elam for an inspiring conversation about journalism, storytelling, and finding your path. Ms. Elam—a Marlborough parent to Simone R. ’28—brought decades of frontline reporting experience to eager media students, offering them a candid window into life as a correspondent whose career has spanned politics, financial reporting, entertainment, and breaking news. 

Ms. Elam’s journey into journalism began during high school, where she worked on the school newspaper and yearbook. That passion deepened during her undergraduate years at Howard University, where she majored in broadcast journalism. “I picked my major because it brought me joy, and it still does. I still love what I do all these years later,” she shared. Her post-graduate work at Nightline under the mentorship of the legendary Ted Koppel laid the foundation for her professional career. After gaining experience in Washington, D.C. and New York City, she returned to her home state of California in 2013, where she has worked as both an anchor and a correspondent, covering “every kind of story that you can probably think of.”

The fast-paced and unpredictable nature of being a CNN correspondent shapes every aspect of Ms. Elam’s professional life. Early roles in financial news built quick writing skills and prepared her for general assignment reporting, which allows her to cover an extraordinary range of topics—from natural disasters to entertainment reporting at the Oscars. This versatility also demands readiness: Ms. Elam keeps a travel bag packed in her car and her phone on at all hours of the night. Breaking news doesn’t have a time zone; this insight provided students with a firsthand look at the realities of a journalist working in the field.

Ms. Elam also walked the students through the process of pitching and executing a news segment from conception to broadcast, working with her team of videographers, security, and producers. Her approach to the stories she covers stresses the importance of continually digesting information, talking to people, and maintaining long-term contacts. Central to her work is a personal commitment to ethical reporting and an unwavering commitment to accuracy. “It’s more important for me to have things be factual than to be the first,” she explained. “What I care about is that when someone sees a piece of mine, they say ‘we know that she gets her facts right.’”

In addition to being factual, Ms. Elam encouraged the young journalists to consider the humanity in their reporting. She shared that she cherishes the moments when her work allows her to be fully present and connect with the human experience. 

One memorable moment she highlighted was her experience covering Hawaii’s 2018 volcanic eruption. She sought to transport audiences by conveying sensory details—the sounds, smells,  and physical sensations of being near an active volcano. Ms. Elam also expressed her passion for being one of the first on the scene of a breaking news story and the opportunity that affords to be able to highlight the helpers, affected communities, and individual stories. Finding those perspectives requires awareness, genuine conversation, and bringing empathy to every situation. 

With the same empathy she brings to her reporting, Ms. Elam provided a candid view into her daily work—the challenges of balancing a demanding career with family life and navigating big decisions throughout her impressive career. She stressed that a person’s path is not set in stone, recalling advice from a former colleague: “You have more than one dream job in a lifetime.” She reminded the aspiring journalists that priorities may shift as life evolves, but empathy, clarity, and the ability to connect with people will always remain at the heart of good reporting. She encouraged students to value the skills they’re developing in Marlborough’s media programs, regardless of their eventual career path.

Her final thought lingered long after she left the room: journalism offers a unique privilege—the opportunity to be “at the front row of history.” For these Marlborough media students, Ms. Elam’s visit offered more than career insight, it provided a compelling example of how following what brings you joy can lead to a life of purpose, impact, and continual growth.