Robin Roberts Reflects on 20-Year Legacy at Good Morning America

NEW YORK, N.Y. — Robin Roberts, the beloved host of “Good Morning America,” recently celebrated the show’s 50th anniversary and reflected on her remarkable journey as a groundbreaking reporter. Over her two-decade career at ABC, Roberts has built a legacy centered around storytelling, audience trust, and personal transparency.

Roberts emphasizes the significance of how stories are told and their impact on communities. “It came down to wanting to be a messenger,” she explains, underscoring her commitment to giving people a platform to share their narratives.

Growing up in Mississippi, Roberts was inspired by her sister Sally-Ann, a reporter at the local news station. “I see her, and I am fascinated,” recalled Roberts, who realized the importance of seeing people who look like herself in media. This exposure fueled her ambition to pursue journalism, particularly in sports reporting, an area where she noticed a significant lack of representation for women of color.

Roberts, now 64, faced challenges as she noted the disparity in media coverage of women’s sports compared to men’s teams. “Nothing in the papers. Nothing locally. But the men’s teams… were getting a lot of recognition,” she stated, expressing her commitment to shedding light on underrepresented athletes.

Mentored by journalist Diane Sawyer, Roberts aimed to create stories that inspire action and provoke thought. “Sports is a microcosm of society,” Roberts articulated. As she transitioned from sports to broader news reporting, she discovered that the journalistic approach remained consistent, regardless of the subject matter.

Despite enjoying her success in sports journalism, Roberts eventually accepted a position as a featured reporter on “Good Morning America,” driven by her desire for new challenges. “I realized I was saying ‘no’ out of habit,” she confessed, highlighting her willingness to step outside of her comfort zone.

By 2005, Roberts became co-anchor of “GMA,” earning numerous accolades, including the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism. However, her career took an unexpected turn when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007. “It’s more commonplace now for a public figure to talk about their health challenge,” she mentioned, reflecting on her initial hesitance to share her journey with the audience.

Roberts recalled her emotional response while covering Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which affected her hometown deeply. “I just broke down on live television… It helped people realize the devastation of Katrina,” she said, noting the powerful connection that authenticity can create between a reporter and their audience.

Throughout her career, Roberts has blended her roles as both journalist and subject, demonstrating the importance of vulnerability in storytelling. “We don’t only show up when there’s a tragedy,” she said, emphasizing the need for continual engagement with audience stories, even after the headlines fade.

In her vision for the future of journalism, Roberts is focused on teaching the next generation to earn the trust of their audience. “I want to teach journalists how to earn the respect of the people they are trying to reach,” she stated emphatically.

The establishment of the Robin Roberts Broadcast Media Center is one way she aims to honor her journey and provide opportunities for new journalists. “I am just so incredibly grateful for these opportunities for the students,” she expressed during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Roberts closes this chapter of her career with humility and pride, understanding the impact that her presence has on viewers each morning. “We talk about it. We know there’s a lot of darkness, but on Good Morning America, we also shed a light,” she concluded.