• Biography

Martha Rountree was an American journalist and television producer who is best known for creating and hosting the long-running television show Meet the Press. She was born in Norfolk, Virginia on October 15, 1918. She attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she earned a degree in journalism.

Early Career

Rountree began her career in journalism in the 1940s, working as a reporter for the Norfolk Ledger-Dispatch. She then moved to Washington, D.C. and worked as a reporter for the Washington Daily News. In 1945, she joined the staff of the Washington bureau of NBC News, where she worked as a reporter and producer.

Meet the Press

In 1947, Rountree created and hosted the first episode of Meet the Press, which was the first regularly scheduled television news program in the United States. The show quickly became a hit and was broadcast nationally. Rountree served as the show's host and executive producer until 1975. During her tenure, she interviewed a wide range of prominent political figures, including presidents Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Richard Nixon.

Legacy

Rountree's work on Meet the Press earned her numerous awards and accolades. In 1971, she was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame. She was also the first woman to receive the Edward R. Murrow Award for excellence in broadcast journalism.

Rountree retired from Meet the Press in 1975 and passed away in 1991. She is remembered as a pioneering figure in television journalism and a trailblazer for women in the field. Her legacy lives on in the show she created, which continues to be broadcast to this day.

Date modified: Apr 3, 2023
We seek for an accuracy and correctness in our content. In case you spot any mistake, please contact us

biogs you may want to read

  • Ezra Klein
    Ezra Klein
    Ezra Klein is an influential journalist, author, and political commentator. He is the founder and editor-at-large of Vox, a news website that focuses on explaining the news. He is also a columnist for The New York Times and a contributor to MSNBC. He is known for his expertise in policy analysis and his ability to explain complex topics in an accessible way. He has helped to shape the modern media landscape and has become a trusted source of information for millions of people.
  • Faye Flam
    Faye Flam
    Faye Flam is an American science journalist and author who has written extensively about science and technology for various publications. She has written several books, is a contributing editor for Science magazine, and a regular contributor to National Geographic. She has been a keynote speaker at conferences and has been recognized with numerous awards for her work.
  • Susan Goldberg
    Susan Goldberg
    Susan Goldberg is a renowned American journalist and editor. She is the first woman to serve as editor-in-chief of National Geographic magazine. She has been a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion, and has used her platform to raise awareness about climate change. Her work has been recognized with numerous awards.
  • Shannon Pettypiece
    Shannon Pettypiece
    Shannon Pettypiece is an award-winning journalist and political correspondent who has covered the White House and Trump administration since 2017. She is known for her in-depth reporting on the president's policies and interactions with foreign leaders, as well as her coverage of the 2020 election. She has been recognized with several awards and accolades, including the White House Correspondents' Association's Merriman Smith Award.
  • Patricia Harris
    Patricia Harris
    Patricia Harris is an American businesswoman, philanthropist and public servant who has held high-profile positions, including US Secretary of Health and Human Services. She is also an active philanthropist, founding the Patricia Harris Foundation to promote education, health and economic development. Her work has had a lasting impact on many lives and she is an inspiration.
  • Betty Liu
    Betty Liu
    Betty Liu is a successful Chinese-American businesswoman, journalist, author, and philanthropist. She is the founder and CEO of Radiate, a media and technology company, and the host of Bloomberg Television's "In the Loop with Betty Liu". She is also involved with numerous charitable organizations and is a board member of the Asian American Arts Alliance and the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund.