Deborah Norville

Two-time Emmy® Award winner, Deborah Norville, is anchor of “Inside Edition,” the nation’s number one daily newsmagazine. Deborah is the longest serving anchor on American television, male or female, and is a member of the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame. She joined “Inside Edition” in 1995 from CBS News where she was anchor and correspondent. She is the former co-host of NBC’s “Today” and anchor of NBC “News at Sunrise.” During her career, Deborah has hosted the primetime “Deborah Norville Tonight” on MSNBC, the national Deborah Norville Show on ABC Talk Radio Network, and been an anchor and reporter for WMAQ-TV in Chicago.

Deborah began her reporting career at WAGA-TV in Atlanta, while still a student at the University of Georgia, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and graduated summa cum laude, first honor graduate with a perfect 4.0 GPA. She is a best-selling author and lecturer. Among her books is “Thank You Power: Making the Science of Gratitude Work for You,” which detailed the connection between gratitude and enhanced cognitive function and energy. Deborah is also a contributor to the popular “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series and the author of several other self-help books, two best-selling children’s books, and a number of books featuring knit and crochet patterns. She is on the board of the Broadcasters Foundation of America, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, Women Corporate Directors, and the New York Women’s Forum, is a past board member of the Girl Scout Council of Greater New York, and the Rita Hayworth (Alzheimer’s) Steering Committee. Deborah is married and the mother of three.

How did you become interested in journalism?

As a senior in high school, girls were given the opportunity to cut fifth period to hear the Jaycees information on the Junior Miss pageant they sponsored. I was happy to cut class and went. Junior Miss was a scholarship program for high school seniors that gave scholarship money for various achievements. I signed up (using sewing as my talent) and won the local scholarship. Then I won the state competition, and as Georgia’s Junior Miss, represented my state at the national finals in Mobile, Alabama. The program was televised by CBS, with Michael Landon as host. I saw how hard the TV production folks were working, yet they seemed to really love what they did. That impressed me. I wanted to be a lawyer and figured it was research that had me excited about law. I then figured, if you put production and research together, you’d be a TV reporter. So, I changed my prospective major, switched schools to the University of Georgia, and pursued journalism as a profession.

Why do you think “Inside Edition” has been so popular for such a long time?

It’s the variety. We do an incredible number of stories in a single broadcast, none of them very long, so there is quite likely something that will appeal to you that you likely never heard about before. The show has ‘take home’ value. There is probably something that you can share with others at lunch that adds to the conversation. I think our show’s longevity has made us ‘comfort food’ for our viewers. We are not only familiar, but also family. We have been there for those milestone moments in all of our lives: 9/11, the COVID crisis, etc., and we got through it together. They say that familiarity breeds contempt. I believe in television, it breeds loyalty. What is the most challenging situation you have encountered as a woman in journalism?

Being taken seriously. When you start your professional career at age 19 and are blonde, you fight every day to be taken seriously. I remember getting an interview with a hard-to-pin-down state senator. None of the older reporters could get him to sit down, but he did with me. I’m sure it’s because he thought I was a lightweight. I still get a tickle remembering how he visibly startled (jolted in his chair) when I asked him a tough question. He didn’t expect that from the ‘little lady’ who’d just graduated from the University of Georgia. I think every woman, in every business, has a ‘MeToo’ moment to talk about, so that isn’t actually something I would even bother mentioning.

Perhaps the most frightening situation was when I was doing an investigation of the Georgia women’s prison and learned inmates were being sent to the state mental hospital as a form of punishment for misbehavior. That was in total violation of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling but was happening. I arranged to go inside the mental hospital to film b-roll. I thought the security was unusually tight. Later I learned there had been a shakedown at the facility the night before my visit; they’d heard of a plot from the inmates to kidnap the Atlanta TV reporter (me!) and hold her hostage until their demands were met!

How has the field of television/journalism changed since you began your career?

It has changed massively. I worked in Atlanta before CNN even existed. Now, there are so many more places where a reporter can find work. That being said, there are many more people who aspire to the job, and as a result, salaries are outrageously low for an entry level reporter. The other big change of course, is that there are many more ways for consumers to receive their information via their phones, social media, etc. The economic model has changed from the traditional way of financing journalism (ad sales help cover the cost of news gathering) to a new paradigm that organizations are still trying to figure out. It was recently reported that roughly 60% of the younger demographic will and do pay for some news. The question remains, is that sufficient to cover the cost of solid reporting or just enough revenue to keep the light on? Consequently, too many operations become mere headline services or rip and read coverage of the latest fire and car crash. Obviously, those are impactful for the victims but have little bearing on the lives of the rest of us - unlike the harder to report issues like the federal deficit, youth suicide, the opioid crisis, inequality, and a list that is endless. www.deborahnorville.com

What advice would you give your 20 year-old self?

I would say, “Trust the process.” If you have thought out your route to whatever goal you have in mind, trust the process. Follow the steps you laid out. If you have been thoughtful and have educated yourself, you will have selected a route/process that is the right one. Trust it to get you to where you want to go. And know that where you end up may not have been your intended destination, but it will be the right place for you.

Who was your most interesting person to interview?

I was impressed when I met (then) Prince Charles. I sat down with Britain’s Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, on live television in 1990 and she crisply told me that she and President George H.W. Bush had decided over dinner that while a UN resolution authorizing the invasion of Iraq would be ‘nice,’ it wasn’t necessary. It was kind of cool to be the first person on earth who reported that war was about to break out in the Middle East. What does the word power mean to you?

Power is the force by which motion is achieved.

Tsikki Thau is an author, meditation, and stress management expert with over 30 years of experience. She is a featured expert on Fox 5’s “The More Show,” Channel 13, Channel 3, Live to Give TV, Edutainment TV, “The Ed Bernstein Show,” “Spotlight on Vegas Business,” MyVegas Magazine, and Real Vegas Magazine. Tsikki is considered a foremost authority in mind-over-body techniques, merging science with tools, and breath techniques to overcome any obstacle.

Tsikki is the visionary behind S.N.A.P.an instant stress relief method, The Will Power Seminar, and Vibe-Up, all scientifically based, proven technologies designed to reprogram the mind to achieve a positive state of being. She is the author of “Color Me Love,” a project designed to alleviate anxiety in children and promote communication through color.

Ultimately, Tsikki’s vision is to implement a stress management and meditation curriculum in education systems and corporations worldwide to eliminate stress and anxiety and promote positive ways of thinking. She has received several awards, including: The Beauty in, Beauty Out Award for Outstanding Holistic and Emotional Support, the Give-Back Award (News Channel 13), Heroes’ of Today Making a Difference through the Pandemic (Live to Give TV), Children’s Stress Management Expert (Edutainment TV), The Best of Las Vegas Holistic Excellence Award, and the Las Vegas Small Business Excellence Award (2016, 2018, and 2019).

What are the most common stressors that clients reach out to you for help with?

The most common stressors are insomnia, grief, lack of self-worth, relationship concerns, business, and financial related blocks. I support my clients to unblock and solve their stressors.

Tell us a little more about the focus app, Centered, that you have partnered with.

Due to the multitude of distractions in our modern day life, I teamed up with Centered, based upon our shared mission, in order to help people get their lives back on track and accomplish something great. I will be the face, voice, and stress management guide who will supply valuable tools and techniques in this incredible app.

Can you explain about ‘Manifest’ in collaboration with the Centered app?

‘Manifest’ is my personal coaching group on the app where I guide you through time management and strategization. You can download the Centered app and join my coaching group, Manifest, today at https://www.centered.app/g/ manifest.

How did you come up with the concept of the S.N.A.P. Instant Stress Relief Technique and why do you think it is so popular?

I originally came up with S.N.A.P. because we live in a fast-paced world and my clients often complained that they didn’t have enough time to meditate. Consequently, I created the S.N.A.P. technique to instantly alleviate stress and allow clients to reach a state of calmness in only a minute and a half.

What are the tools and techniques you utilize during your clients sessions?

I have 30 years of experience with innovative breath therapies, stress management techniques, mindover-body commands, and intuitive guidance. This allows my clients to feel calm and centered while reaching their goals and achieving transformation beyond their expectations.

Can you elaborate on how you help individual clients as well as corporations?

I think you can reach the masses with one strong message. My techniques are excellent for time management which corporations often find practical for their everyday business mindsets. I can help one person in an hour or thousands with the same tools and techniques. What does the word power mean to you?

Power means a connection that is deeper than myself. Some call it the universe; I call it God.

TsikkiThau.com.