Soledad O'Brien

Dive into the life of Soledad O’Brien — American journalist, documentary producer, and media entrepreneur. Learn about her background, career journey, impact, and inspiring quotes.

Introduction

Soledad O’Brien (born September 19, 1966) is a prominent American broadcast journalist, executive producer, author, and advocate. Over decades she has distinguished herself through incisive journalism, documentary storytelling, and a commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices. Today she leads her own production company and hosts Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien, a nationally syndicated public affairs program.

Her work bridges hard news, social issues, identity, and human stories. She has received numerous awards for her journalism and continues to be a leading voice in media, philanthropy, and public conversation.

Early Life, Family & Identity

Soledad O’Brien was born María de la Soledad Teresa O’Brien on September 19, 1966 in St. James, New York. Edward O’Brien, was a mechanical engineering professor; her mother, Estela Marquetti y Mendieta, taught French and English.

Her heritage is richly mixed: her mother was Afro-Cuban, and her father was of Irish-Australian descent.

Growing up in Long Island, she was acutely aware of how her racial and cultural background made her different from peers. She has said she “knew I was different from my early childhood.” Despite these challenges, she was raised with a strong sense of purpose, education, and storytelling.

Education & Early Career

O’Brien graduated from Smithtown High School East in 1984. Radcliffe College/Harvard from 1984 to 1988, initially studying pre-medicine and English & American literature. 2000.

Her entry into journalism came as an associate producer and news writer at WBZ-TV (Boston). NBC News (1991), producing for Nightly News and Weekend Today.

In 1996, she began anchoring on MSNBC, including the tech show The Site, and later worked on Weekend Today and NBC Nightly News segments.

Rise in Journalism & Media Leadership

CNN & Documentary Work

From 2003 to 2007, O’Brien co-anchored CNN’s American Morning. Hurricane Katrina, notably interviewing FEMA leader Michael Brown.

In 2012, she became anchor of Starting Point on CNN. Starfish Media Group (later Soledad O’Brien Productions).

She has produced influential documentary series such as Black in America and Latino in America. HBO Real Sports until the show ended in December 2023.

Current Roles

Since 2016, O’Brien has anchored and produced Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien, a nationally syndicated public affairs show. Peabody Awards board of directors.

Beyond journalism, she co-founded the PowHERful Foundation (formerly Starfish Foundation) with her husband to mentor young women as they pursue college.

Personality, Philosophy & Influence

O’Brien is widely respected for combining journalistic rigor with empathy. Her philosophy often emphasizes storytelling as bridge-building — she believes that telling a story well can move people into action.

Her mixed-race heritage, and childhood awareness of racial identity, have deeply informed her lens and choice of subject matter. She has spoken about confronting bias and asserting authenticity in media environments.

She is also a mother to four children. One of her children has a hearing impairment, which has motivated her to advocate for inclusion and awareness.

O’Brien has consistently pursued independence—launching her own media company and choosing projects that allow her control over narrative and impact.

Notable Quotes

Here are some memorable quotes and reflections from Soledad O’Brien:

• “If you can tell a story well, you can move people to do something.”

• On responsibility in journalism: “As cheesy as it sounds, the buck stops here … I’d rather go down in flames around a mistake I made than because someone told me to say it.”

• On identity and belonging: “I knew I was different from my early childhood.”

• On her name and heritage: Though many encouraged her to change her name, she refused, saying she wanted to honor her full name and identity.

These lines reflect her commitment to integrity, voice, and making stories matter.

Lessons from Soledad O’Brien

1. Embrace complexity in identity
   O’Brien’s life shows how mixed heritage, marginalization, and belonging can become sources of insight rather than obstacles.

2. Storytelling with purpose
   She teaches that journalism is not just about reporting—but choosing which stories to center and how to humanize them.

3. Take control of narrative
   By founding her own production company, she reclaimed authority over the stories she wants to tell.

4. Speak truth from experience
   Her personal history—family, race, motherhood—gives her reporting depth and authenticity.

5. Resilience in media
   In a changing media landscape, her adaptability (from anchoring to producing) is a model for sustainable influence.

Recommended Works & Legacy

• Books

  • The Next Big Story: My Journey Through the Land of Possibilities (memoir)

  • Latino in America (with Rose Arce)

• Documentaries & Series

  • Black in America (CNN)

  • Latino in America (CNN)

  • Other production work through Soledad O’Brien Productions on social justice themes

• Philanthropy & Advocacy

  • PowHERful Foundation (mentoring, access to college for women)

  • Public speaking, op-eds, media appearances to highlight equity, race, and inclusion

Soledad O’Brien’s legacy is that of a journalist who refuses to settle for surface reporting. She strives to center stories that matter, to give voice to silence, and to provoke reflection and action. Her evolution—from network anchor to media entrepreneur and social change agent—marks her as a model for journalists in the 21st century.