Jane Pauley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jane Pauley
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Pauley in 2012
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Margaret Jane Pauley
October 31, 1950 Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
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| 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 famous American television host and author. She has been working in news since 1972. Jane Pauley first became well-known when she joined the NBC morning show Today. She was only 25 years old at the time.
She co-anchored Today from 1976 to 1989. Later, she hosted the news show Dateline NBC from 1992 to 2003. After that, she had her own talk show, The Jane Pauley Show, in 2004-2005.
In 2014, Jane Pauley started working for CBS. She became a contributor to CBS Sunday Morning. By 2016, she became the main host of the show. She is still the host today. Jane Pauley has also openly shared her experiences with a health condition to help others. She is married to the cartoonist Garry Trudeau. He created the comic strip Doonesbury.
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Early Life and Education
Jane Pauley was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on October 31, 1950. She was the second child of Richard and Mary Pauley. Her father was a salesman, and her mother was a homemaker. In her book, Skywriting: A Life Out of the Blue, Jane said she was very shy as a child. She even let her second-grade teacher call her Margaret all year. She was too shy to say she preferred her middle name, Jane.
Jane Pauley was a strong speaker and debater in high school. She attended Warren Central High School in Indianapolis. She won first place in a national speaking competition in Indiana. After graduating in 1968, she went to Indiana University Bloomington. She studied political science and graduated in 1972.
After college, Jane worked at a TV station in Indianapolis. In 1975, she moved to Chicago. She became the first woman co-anchor on a major evening newscast there. Just ten months later, she was chosen to join the Today show.
Television Career Highlights
Hosting Today
Jane Pauley co-hosted the Today show from 1976 to 1989. She first worked with Tom Brokaw. Then, she co-hosted with Bryant Gumbel starting in 1982. She also anchored the Sunday edition of NBC Nightly News for a few years.
Jane Pauley followed Barbara Walters, who was the first female co-anchor. Jane became a role model for professional women. In 1983, she had twins. This made her a symbol for working mothers. Many people admired her. Her colleague Linda Ellerbee once wrote, "She is what I want to be when I grow up."
In 1989, there were big changes at Today. Another news reader, Deborah Norville, was given a bigger role. Many people thought NBC wanted to replace Jane with a younger person. Jane had been thinking about spending more time with her children. She asked to leave her contract, but NBC said no.
In October 1989, Jane announced she would leave Today in December. She planned to work on other projects at NBC. Many viewers were upset. They felt Jane was being pushed out. After Jane left, the Today show lost many viewers. This showed how much people loved Jane Pauley.
After leaving Today, Jane received thousands of letters of support. She was featured on many magazine covers. One magazine called her "The Loved One."
Jane returned to TV in March 1990 with a special show. It was called Changes: Conversations with Jane Pauley. The show was very popular. This led to more specials and a new series called Real Life with Jane Pauley.
Leading Dateline NBC
In 1992, NBC launched a new news show called Dateline. Jane Pauley co-anchored Dateline from 1992 to 2003 with Stone Phillips. Dateline became a very successful show. At one point, it was on five nights a week.
In 2003, Jane decided not to renew her contract with NBC. She wanted to explore new opportunities. She said she felt it was time for a "life audit." She wanted to try new things in her career.
The Jane Pauley Show and Beyond
After leaving Dateline, Jane was offered her own daytime talk show. In 2004, she became the host of The Jane Pauley Show. It was a syndicated talk show. The show was canceled after one season. However, Jane said it was a very important experience for her. She learned a lot and was proud she had the courage to try something new.
In the same year, Jane published her best-selling book, Skywriting: A Life Out of the Blue. In the book, she shared her experience with bipolar disorder. She decided to talk openly about it to help others. She believes that sharing her story can help people understand mental health better. She also emphasizes the importance of managing the condition.
After her talk show, Jane appeared on PBS. She also supported Barack Obama in his presidential campaign in 2008.
Returning to Today and Joining CBS
In 2009, Jane Pauley returned to the Today show. She became a contributor. She hosted a weekly segment called "Your Life Calling." This segment featured people over 50 who were starting new careers or hobbies. The series was very popular. It led to Jane's second best-selling book, Your Life Calling: Reimagining the Rest of Your Life.
In 2014, Jane appeared on CBS Sunday Morning. Viewers loved her. This led to her being hired as a correspondent for the show. She also filled in as a host for other CBS news programs. In 2016, it was announced that Jane Pauley would become the main host of CBS Sunday Morning. She took over after Charles Osgood retired.
Jane started her role as host on October 9, 2016. This was almost 40 years after her first appearance on Today.
Awards and Recognition
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 also received the Edward R. Murrow Award.
- In 1998, she was inducted into the Broadcast and Cable Hall of Fame.
- She received the Gracie Allen Award for Outstanding Achievement.
- She was given the first international Matrix Award in 1998.
- She also received an award from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
Personal Life
Jane Pauley married cartoonist Garry Trudeau on June 14, 1980. They have three children and two grandchildren.
Jane Pauley is involved in several important organizations. She serves 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. This group supports new ideas in education in Indianapolis.
In 2009, a health center was named after her. The Jane Pauley Community Health Center helps local communities. It provides medical, dental, and mental health care. It serves students and their families, no matter their insurance or income. There are now 15 centers, mostly in the area where Jane grew up.
See also
- Broadcast journalism
- New Yorkers in journalism
Images for kids
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Jane Pauley in 2012
