Lester Holt

Lester Holt is an award-winning American broadcast journalist and news anchor, widely recognized for his authoritative presence and extensive experience in reporting on global events and significant national stories. After beginning his distinguished journalism career as a reporter for WCBS-TV in New York City in 1981, Lester Holt quickly established himself as a prominent broadcast journalist, reporting from global hotspots and anchoring major newscasts. His initial tenure included serving as a reporter and weekend anchor at KNXT in Los Angeles from 1982 to 1983, before returning to WCBS-TV in 1983. Holt then embarked on a significant 14-year period as an evening news anchor at WBBM-TV in Chicago, starting in 1986.

During his early years at CBS, he distinguished himself with international reporting from complex locations such as Iraq, Northern Ireland, Somalia, El Salvador, and Haiti, demonstrating his capability to cover critical global issues. Holt transitioned to MSNBC in 2000, quickly assuming full-time duties at NBC News by 2003. In this capacity, he served as a substitute anchor for both ‘NBC Nightly News’ and ‘Today’. Later in 2003, he became the full-time co-anchor of ‘Weekend Today’, expanding his versatile presence across NBC’s news programming.

In May 2025, Holt is set to step down from ‘NBC Nightly News’ to focus exclusively on his role as the full-time host of ‘Dateline NBC’, where he continues to deliver in-depth reporting and compelling storytelling. This transition marks the conclusion of nearly a decade leading the network’s flagship evening newscast, while reinforcing his commitment to the acclaimed investigative series. Holt remains a highly respected and authoritative presence in broadcast news, known for his ability to cover significant national and international stories with gravitas and insight.