Journalist and author Brooke Baldwin ’01 huddles with UNC librarian Suchi Mohanty for a virtual talk about Baldwin’s new book

by Barbara Wiedemann

On Wednesday, April 21, UNC Hussman alumna Brooke Baldwin ’01—freshly into a book launch of “Huddle: How Women Unlock Their Collective Power” and less than a week from bidding her longtime CNN “Newsroom” audience and CNN colleagues farewell—joined UNC Libraries’ Suchi Mohanty ’02 (MSLS) virtually to talk about her book and about her plans for the future. The book, Baldwin’s first, is a blend of journalism and personal narrative. UNC Libraries described it as “A fascinating look at how women are not only adding seats at the table to make change but are building a whole new table at which all can play a role.”

The conversation was part of the “Well Read” UNC Libraries series that connects readers virtually with authors who have Tar Heel ties. Readers may remember that August’s “Well Read” guest was another UNC Hussman graduate, Pulitzer Prize-winner David Zucchino ’73. Wednesday’s event was co-presented by the Carolina Women's Leadership Council.

Mohanty, head librarian at the R.B. House Undergraduate Library, jumped in Wednesday evening with a question about how the idea for “Huddle: How Women Unlock Their Collective Power” came about. Baldwin explained that a two-day experience covering the 2018 Trump inauguration live — embedded in the Trump motorcade, no less — followed by on-the-ground reporting of the Women’s March on Washington the next day was a watershed moment.

“Women were showing up in a way that I had never noticed in my 20-year career,” said Baldwin of the day she interviewed some of the half-a-million women who marched in Washington, D.C., including well-known names from Gloria Steinem to Cher. Baldwin said she decided then to dedicate herself to spotlighting women.

“That began my unofficial journey,” said the seasoned journalist, who quickly turned tables on the interviewer and asked Mohanty if she’d participated in the march (she had) and what that experience was like for the librarian.

Later in the discussion, Baldwin defined a “huddle” as not just being in a group of supportive women but bringing real intentionality to it. Baldwin shared that over the course of researching and writing her book, she’d also been working to develop her own support networks.

“I was huddle-less,” she said of life in a male-dominated newsroom and a culture where the women who did gain power had what she called “sharp elbows.” “I needed to learn how to activate my own huddle. And inspire other women to do the same.”

Later in the interview, Baldwin asked Mohanty, “Do you have a primary huddle, multiple huddles? I’m just curious.”

“Do I get to talk about my huddles with Brooke?!” a delighted Mohanty replied, describing her mom huddle for parenting advice and work huddle where she can ask for professional advice and help.

“You come to the group with those questions and that vulnerability,” said Baldwin “and that is a huge part of the secret sauce of huddling,” pointing out the need for a place where women have the ability and a safe space to fail. She described her own work gathering four good girlfriends from her high school days together again and creating her first group text chain to keep the dialogue going.

“I was 38 or 39 and about to get married. That was a long time to wait,” said Baldwin about pulling her best women friends into a room together. She also name-checked some of the CNN women who formed part of her work huddle, like chief political correspondent and “State of the Union” co-anchor Dana Bash and Alisyn Camerota, who has taken over the 2–4 p.m. “Newsroom” time slot alongside Victor Blackwell; and described a wellness huddle of women with a common goal who help her keep her fitness goals.

Mohanty asked Baldwin about some of the women she interviewed for the book, from Ava DuVernay in Hollywood to Stacey Abrams in politics to soccer player Megan Rapinoe and her fiancé, Seattle Storm point guard Sue Bird, in sports.

Baldwin, who gave the UNC Hussman commencement address in 2014 and did a Start Here / Never Stop podcast interview with Dean Susan King in 2016, also took questions from the audience. To a rising Carolina first year student who asked about pushing other young women to form long-lasting huddles, she clarified, “You’re not pushing anyone!” She encouraged the reader to find others with shared passions and start from there.

“At a place like Carolina, you’ll find them a-plenty,” said Baldwin. “Embrace all that UNC has to offer. Stick your big toe into clubs, sports, the dining hall, the Pit… There will be no pushing. You will find multiple huddles,” she predicted, advising, “Stay present and true to yourself in those relationships and enjoy the ride.”

To a question about what advice she’d give to college women pursuing a future in journalism, Baldwin responded from experience.

“Learn how to do everything,” she advised. She wanted to be a producer until her senior year at UNC Hussman, she said. She had directed Carolina Week; shot her own stories; interned at WBTV in Charlotte, learning about being a line producer and shadowing a reporter. Her later on-camera career was informed and strengthened by all she’d done behind-the-scenes in college, she told her virtual audience.

“Throw yourself into everything before you decide to put a ring on it,” she said.

Asked what advice she’d share with her 21-year-old self, Baldwin paused a moment and then said:

“This is what I would tell the 2001 self and this is also what I would tell the 2021 self is, it's all going to be okay. You're going to screw up. You‘re gonna choose the wrong thing here and there. You’re going to fail. There’s going to be a lot of unknowns. Life will hand you those curveballs. It’s how you respond to them. And also: know yourself, like really get to know yourself, sitting still with yourself, allowing yourself to be alone and knowing that in the end, it is going to be okay. That's what I would tell my college self.”

Baldwin had similarly wise words for her CNN “Newsroom” audience on Friday, April 16.

“I’m a journalist and a storyteller for life,” said Baldwin on her last appearance as host on CNN’s “Newsroom” the Friday beforehand. “My parting words,” she added. “Get a little uncomfortable. Speak up. And keep pushing.”