Jane Pauley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jane Pauley
|
|
|---|---|
Pauley in 2012
|
|
| Born |
Margaret Jane Pauley
October 31, 1950 Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
|
| Alma mater | Indiana University Bloomington (BA) |
| Occupation | News anchor Television host |
| Years active | 1972–present |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Spouse(s) |
Garry Trudeau
(m. 1980) |
| Children | 3 |
Margaret Jane Pauley (born October 31, 1950) is a well-known American television host and author. She has been working in news since 1972. Jane Pauley first became famous when she joined the NBC morning show Today at age 25. She was a co-host there from 1976 to 1989. Later, she co-hosted the news show Dateline NBC from 1992 to 2003.
After leaving NBC, Pauley hosted her own talk show, The Jane Pauley Show, for one season in 2004-2005. She returned to The Today Show in 2009 as a special contributor. In 2014, she started working for CBS on CBS Sunday Morning. She became the main host of that show in 2016 and continues in that role today. Jane Pauley has also openly shared her experience with bipolar disorder. She is married to the cartoonist Garry Trudeau, who created the comic strip Doonesbury.
Contents
Early Life and First Steps in TV
Margaret Jane Pauley was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on October 31, 1950. She was a shy child and grew up looking up to her older sister, Ann. In high school, Jane was a champion in speech and debate. After graduating in 1968, she went to Indiana University Bloomington. She studied political science and graduated in 1972.
After college, Pauley started her TV career in Chicago. She became the first woman co-anchor on a major evening newscast there in 1975. Just ten months later, she was chosen to join the national Today show on NBC.
Jane Pauley's TV Career
Hosting Today
Jane Pauley co-hosted the Today show from 1976 until December 1989. She first worked with Tom Brokaw and then with Bryant Gumbel. She also anchored the Sunday edition of NBC Nightly News for a few years.
Pauley became a role model for professional women and female journalists. When she had twins in 1983, she became an inspiration for working mothers. In 1989, there were rumors that NBC wanted to replace her with a younger newscaster, Deborah Norville. This caused a lot of talk in the media. Pauley decided to leave the show in December 1989. Many viewers were upset, and the Today show's ratings dropped after she left.
After leaving Today, Pauley hosted a special TV show called Changes: Conversations with Jane Pauley. It was very popular. This led to more specials and a series called Real Life with Jane Pauley in 1991.
Working on Dateline NBC
In 1992, NBC launched a new news show called Dateline. Jane Pauley co-hosted Dateline from 1992 to 2003 with Stone Phillips. Dateline became a very successful news program.
In 2003, Pauley decided not to renew her contract with NBC. She said she wanted to take a break and explore new things in her life.
Her Own Talk Show and Beyond
After leaving Dateline, Jane Pauley was offered her own daytime talk show. The Jane Pauley Show started in 2004. It was a challenging experience, and the show was canceled after one season. Even though it didn't last long, Pauley said she was proud of trying something new.
In the same year, Pauley published her book, Skywriting: A Life Out of the Blue. In this book, she shared that she has bipolar disorder. She decided to talk openly about it to help others. She has said that taking her medication every day helps her stay well.
Returning to Today and Joining CBS
In 2009, Pauley returned to the Today show as a contributor. She hosted a segment called "Your Life Calling," which featured people over 50 who were starting new careers or hobbies. This series was very popular and led to her second best-selling book.
In 2014, Jane Pauley appeared on the CBS show CBS Sunday Morning. Viewers loved her, and she was soon hired as a correspondent for the show. She also filled in as a host for other CBS news programs. On September 25, 2016, it was announced that Pauley would become the main host of CBS Sunday Morning, taking over from Charles Osgood. She began her role as host on October 9, 2016, almost 40 years after her first appearance on Today. She continues to host CBS Sunday Morning today.
Awards and Honors
Jane Pauley has received many awards for her work in journalism:
- She won the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024.
- She has won 10 News & Documentary Emmy Awards.
- She received the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism in 2007.
- She was given the Paul White Award for Lifetime Contribution to Electronic Journalism.
- She received the Edward R. Murrow Award for Outstanding Achievement.
- She was added to the Broadcast and Cable Hall of Fame in 1998.
- She received the Gracie Allen Award for Outstanding Achievement.
- She was given the first international Matrix Award in 1998.
- She received the Rana and Ken Purdy Award from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
- She received the Poynter Medal for Lifetime Achievement from the Poynter Institute in 2025.
Personal Life and Community Work
Jane Pauley married cartoonist Garry Trudeau on June 14, 1980. They have three children and two grandchildren.
Pauley is involved in several organizations. She is on the board of directors for the Children's Health Fund in New York City. She is also on the board of The Mind Trust, which helps improve education in Indianapolis.
In 2009, a health center was named after her: the Jane Pauley Community Health Center. This center works with the Community Health Network and local schools in Indiana. It provides medical, dental, and mental health care to people in the community, including students and their families. There are now 15 such centers, many in the area where Pauley grew up.
See also
- Broadcast journalism
- New Yorkers in journalism
