The Story Behind the Story: Aaron Katersky Talks the Frontlines of Journalism
You might recognize his face and voice as he shares the screen with legendary journalists such as David Muir on ABC’s World News Tonight or with and Robin Roberts on Good Morning America or other ABC platforms such as Nightline and 20/20, but Aaron Katersky is more than just the face of a breaking news story, he is a power-house and motivator. Aaron Katersky has been in the industry for over 20 years and has reported on various events in our country. His calm demeanor and captivating voice are inspiring, demonstrating the epitome of powerful journalism.
Aaron Katersky, award-winning senior investigative reporter & correspondent for ABC News
I had the immense opportunity and pleasure to interview Aaron Katersky on October 18, 2024 regarding his admirable career trajectory. This interview experience allowed me to gain valuable insight into the inspirations and aspirations that drive his success. I strongly believe that certain things are meant to happen and that people do not meet by coincidence. This belief was exemplified when I scheduled an interview with Aaron after our paths unexpectedly crossed.
While visiting a friend in New York City, I was offered a ride home by a family friend who needed to pick up her daughter from a camp friend’s house in the city. I accompanied her for the ride and, by chance, met Aaron’s daughter and wife. As a loyal viewer of World News Tonight, I was starstruck upon realizing the connection. I felt compelled to learn more, so I did. To my delight, a few months later, I was given the extraordinary opportunity to interview him. During our conversation, we delved into Aaron’s career journey, and I even received a brief virtual tour of the ABC studio via Zoom which was a special surprise. This experience is a gift that I will never forget and I will continue to cherish!
Therefore, to start our interview, I asked Aaron how high school and the classes he took helped shape his career today. He laughed while thinking back to his high school days and said he totally benefited from his typing and English classes. He continued, explaining that what truly got him into the industry was realizing that, since he could not play on the baseball team, he decided to write about it.
Aaron further explained that he was able to make it in the industry thanks to the incredible mentors he had along the way. He wholeheartedly expressed the importance of finding good people to help show you the ropes. He mentioned that his role model is journalist Peter Jennings, whom he called “the gold standard in reporting.”
Segueing into his distinguished career at ABC, I had to ask Aaron what his favorite memory is working for one of the largest newscasting networks in the country. He thought for a moment, mentioning, “I have been doing this for 21 years, and everything is memorable!” For him, each story is unique and distinct. However, the one that stood out the most was when he walked into a room full of legendary ABC officials for the first time. He looked around the room, appreciating where he was. He also briefly mentioned that watching events unravel in real-time, such as Barack Obama accepting his nomination, being front and center for Donald Trump stories, and spending time in Iraq, stood out in his mind. Aaron then laughed, recalling a story from the early years of his career when meeting President George Bush for the first time, “Not everything is glamorous,” he explained. He continued with a story about Hurricane Katrina, during which he worked on the radio and reported about the catastrophe of the storm. He had to spend time sleeping in his car without showering. When reporting the impact of Katrina, President George Bush came to survey the damage. Aaron reflects, “I held a mic and bent down to shake his hand. What a way to meet the president! Did I mention I was sleeping in my car and not showering for a few days?”
As I was wrapping up our conversation, I had to ask Aaron what he would tell his high school self if he could go back in time. Without much hesitation, Aaron jokingly replied, “I would learn to play tennis and get a better haircut! Oh, and I would actually read the books the teacher assigned; in other words, don’t half-#%* it!” All joking aside, I finally asked what advice he would give students about following their dreams. Aaron replied, “Don’t be afraid. Don’t say no. Even if you think you don’t know how to do something, do it anyway! You can teach yourself during the process. In other words, be bold!”
I wholeheartedly want to thank Aaron Katersky for allowing me to interview him. Thank you, Aaron, for proving that working hard can lead you to unbelievable places and experiences (literally!). Your incredible work-ethic and passion for what you do shine bright. Thank you for showing up every day on our televisions and informing America of the latest headlines. Most importantly, thank you for modeling the importance of being kind and true to yourself. To me, you are the “gold standard!”
Aaron Katersky at the ABC News Studio
