This week, ABC News chief global affairs correspondent andThis Weekco-anchor Martha Raddatz phones in.
But when I look at today, and jobs are truly 24/7, I had it pretty good.
(The two separated, and she has since remarried.)
I repeat, it was a dumb decision.)
I made lifelong bonds with the soldiers, the actors, and crew.
Here, she looks back on life as a rising broadcast journalist.
Take me back to 1981.
What was your life like when you were 28?
It was a local station, but they did a lot of national and international things.
I loved every story I was given because I got to travel and see things.
What did an average Friday night look like?
So I had pretty regular hours.
We had just had a baby.
There were a lot of 28-year-olds [in my orbit] who were just starting families.
What stressed you out the most at that age?
Was there a moment in your career where you felt like youd made it?
When other stations in [Boston] tried to get me to come to their station.
I always went in doing hardcore stories.
What were some of your favorite stories you covered?
Boston and politics were fascinating.
City Hall was great to cover.
And then you hadthe Kennedy family there, which was always fascinating to cover.
I was going, going, going all day, every single day.
Most of my friends then were from work.
What advice would you give to your 28-year-old self?
I didnt have to constantly prove myself.
Just do the work.
Theres really nothing more you might do.
Do they think Im not as competitive as the men?
I wish Id known that [it] didnt matter.
In the end, I was myself.
Nobodys perfect at everything.
Youre not going to be a perfect mother.
Youre not going to be a perfect journalist.
Never worry about perfection.
It just doesnt happen.
What do you think your 28-year-old self would think of Martha today?
I couldnt have imagined where I would end up today.
I never had any five-year plan.
I just liked what I was doing and kept doing it.
There was never a moment when I thought, I dont like what I’m doing.
There still hasnt been, quite frankly.
When you come from fairly humble beginnings, I think thats what happens.
And Im grateful for humble beginnings because they keep me happier every day.
How do you see the media changing now?
How do you think its different today for young people starting out now?
Fundamentally, the job is the same.
You are a storyteller.
Thats a fundamental part of journalism that people shouldn’t forget.
Today its just a much faster pace.
Some nights, Im on the news for 45 seconds.
You have to narrow that story down and reduce it to the most important factor.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
