Woman to Watch: Fredricka Whitfield

Name: Fredricka Whitfield

Twitter Handle: @fwhitfield

Occupation: CNN anchor for weekend versions of CNN Newsroom

Pedigree: Her father is Olympian Mal Whitfield (a double winner of 800 m at the Olympic Games). Her brother is also an athlete.

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from Howard University

Why We’re Watching: Fredricka is not only an award winning journalist who has been on the front lines of many breaking stories over the past couple decades, but she also has a very pragmatic approach to parenting and “doing it all” as a wife, mother and successful, driven woman.

Career Climb: Fredricka has held several on-air positions in the newsroom prior to CNN, particularly with NBC. She was a correspondent for NBC News, an Atlanta-based correspondent for NBC Nightly News, and was seen on Dateline and The Today Show. Before landing on these NBC programs she worked in local news at WPLG-TV in Miami, News Channel 8 in Washington, D.C., KTVT-TV in Dallas, WTNH in New Haven, Connecticut, and WCIV in Charleston, South Carolina.

Family Life: Fredricka is married to John Glenn (former photo editor at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution). She has one son who is six years old.

Is it hard leaving your son at home and going to work?: “In a word ‘no.’ I know I’m a better mother, partner and friend if my intellectual and creative needs are met too.” Read more about Fredricka’s thoughts on why she chose to work outside the home here.

Awards and Recognition Include: The Society of Professional Journalists, Associated Press, 2002 Howard University School of Communications Alumna of the year, 2005 George Peabody award for live coverage of Hurricane Katrina and aftermath, 2005 Ebony award for Outstanding Women in Marketing and Communications, 2007 Emmy award for outstanding live coverage of a breaking news story long form.