Covering everything from US-China relations to the rise of AI, Kristie Lu Stout brings a unique perspective and a wealth of experience to her broadcasts. — ART CHEN/The Star
Polished and perfectly put together, CNN correspondent and news anchor Kristie Lu Stout has a commanding presence that turns heads in our direction as we go about our cover shoot.
The award-winning broadcast journalist, in town recently for an event, is known for reporting on some of the most significant stories impacting the world today.
Covering everything from US-China relations to the rise of AI, Lu Stout is a familiar face on screen and a household name who brings a unique perspective and a wealth of experience to her broadcasts.
During an interview at the St Regis Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Lu Stout candidly spoke about a range of topics, including the rise of AI in journalism, her experiences as a news anchor, her personal connection to Malaysia and motherhood.
An illustrious career
The seasoned anchor is instantly recognisable to many, known for delivering news updates and hosting curated programmes in a relatable manner for the past two decades.
It may come as a surprise that she was initially reluctant to take on the role of news anchor.
“When I first started at CNN, I was a correspondent, and the network was interested in grooming me to become a general news anchor,” shared Lu Stout, who began her career in journalism in San Francisco at Wired magazine’s online division.
“At first I said, no, all they do is mime the news,” she said. “I was so wrong. When I was just starting out, I learned how much expertise, knowledge and research was needed behind the scenes.”
The seasoned anchor is instantly recognisable, known for delivering news updates and hosting curated programmes. — Mark Hill/CNN
Apart from being extremely well read about what’s happening around the world, Lu Stout stresses that as an anchor, you have to know your material, inside out.
“For example, when I interviewed Elon Musk, I made sure I read his entire biography, that’s hundreds and hundreds of pages, but that was part of my research. You had to do that and get that done.”
Collaboration is also important, as putting together a broadcast involves working in a team.
“When I do a story, and if it’s an area that I’m not familiar with, I contact someone on the ground who can help familiarise me with the situation, I could talk to a CNN producer, a journalist, someone from outside, an expert, what have you. It’s good to have that humility in order to learn.”
“There are moments when you are not ready for a certain story and you have to be humble and then you contact your friend, you contact your ally, you contact someone in the newsroom.”
She cites being brave as one of the qualities one must possess as a journalist.
“You have to put yourself out there on camera, nowhere to escape, and oftentimes to not be afraid to ask the so called stupid question, because oftentimes, the so called stupid question is the one that unlocks the best out of an interview.”
Insights on AI Lu Stout, who has a deep understanding of technology, having hosted various programmes on the subject, recalled a viral tweet that reads, “AI will not take your job, but someone with AI will.”
She noted that while the AI revolution is underway and offers incredible tools, it also presents significant challenges.
“We have to learn from the social media revolution, which brought issues like bullying, harassment, especially for young women and girls, body image issues, and disinformation,” she said, underscoring the importance of using AI ethically, protecting privacy, security and the human endeavour.
She noted that AI is already being used in journalism for transcription, translation, story discovery, to find out what’s trending on social media and in many other ways.
“I think as consumers and as journalists, we have to be cautious and realise it is a tool that can help enhance our work. It’s important that AI does not replace humans, does not replace photographers, artists, what have you, but enhances our work.”
Being credible, compelling and relatable
While she is cool, composed and concise in her broadcasts, she reveals that she is no stranger to awkward moments, and has on occasion, lost her composure on screen.
Laughing, she recalls a lighthearted moment from a decade ago when she “lost it” on air due to a Japanese mascot named Funassyi.
“The correspondent in Tokyo at the time filed a story about Japanese mascots and the work that they do, and I think, at the last video the mascot was doing something absolutely ridiculous,” she recalls. “I just burst out laughing and I could not stop, and the clip was released onto YouTube and social media. It kind of went viral.”
It’s moments like these that illustrate the human side to reporting, and the relatability of news anchors.
Maintaining professionalism while acknowledging the emotional aspects of live broadcasting are all part and parcel of the job.
“It happens and fortunately in that context, it was appropriate,” she added. ”But you do have to maintain your game face, and you have to make sure that you have the appropriate emotional response, of course. But we’re also human and things do make us tear up and things do make us laugh out loud.”
Making an impact
In the age of social media and alternative news sources, Lu Stout stresses the need for news anchors to be credible and compelling.
With news avoidance at an all-time high, particularly among younger audiences, she believes journalists must offer solutions and hope.
Her programmes, like Tech for Good, showcase the positive impact of technology, while initiatives like My Freedom Day raise awareness about modern-day slavery and involve students in anti-trafficking efforts.
“A lot of younger people don’t want to read the news or watch the news anymore. They’d rather be distracted by social media, or by online gaming, because they feel helpless because it feels too negative.”
“How do we respond to that? We have to have a sense of hope, and a sense of agency that yes, there is this problem. But there is a way that you can get involved. And you can help resolve this issue. Tech for Good is about the positive transformative impact of technology through the next generation of innovators who are coming up with really cool solutions,” said Lu Stout.
The Malaysian connection
Lu Stout has a personal bond to our nation through her husband, lawyer Seung Chong with whom she has a 15-year-old daughter, and she visits KL often.
“I absolutely love Malaysia. I think Malaysia is so ‘extra’ on all fronts. Just the cuisine, the art, the activities,” she said.
“The food in Malaysia is unbeatable, it is the world’s foodie capital. But it’s not just the food. Of course, it’s the people, friends and family here who are always so warm and welcoming.”
From dinners at Dewakan to enjoying mamak food and local fruits, Lu Stout cites several things she loves to do when she is in town.
“The best bookstore in Asia is Kinokuniya in KLCC. I’m sorry, I only wish I had something like that in Hong Kong. I am a bookworm. I love books. It’s great that you have a reading culture here that that sustains a bookstore of that calibre,” said Lu Stout, who also frequents museums here with her artist daughter. “And if I was to give a wildcard suggestion, I would say Hauntu, Malaysia’s first immersive haunted house. I just love the creativity, the ingenuity of the performers. It was such a great experience.”
Motherhood, she said, has had a profound impact on her approach to journalism.
“It was as if my third eye opened up, giving me a sense of empathy and compassion I didn’t have before,” she said, adding that these qualities have made her a better reporter, allowing her to understand social phenomena and individuals with greater depth.
She said that qualities of being a mother like patience, tenderness and compassion are also key traits that make her a better journalist.
“And also, can I say, playfulness? You know, as a mum, you have to find ways to get your kid to eat the vegetables. Like a journalist, you have to find ways for your audience to not just eat the junk food all the time, they have to know what is happening in the world, and it’s up to us to serve it to them again, in a compelling way.”
Despite her demanding career, Lu Stout finds ways to involve her daughter, Arabella, and her poodle, Bobo in her work.
“We were interviewing a Japanese grandpa YouTuber, who was using the platform to teach art, this was in the first season of Tech for Good,” said Lu Stout.
“And my tiny poodle was also in an episode, it was about robots that can be trained to do certain behaviour.”
Lu Stout’s warmth and genuine curiosity about the world around her are testament to her passion for telling stories and making an impact in the community.
Through insightful reporting with a human touch, Lu Stout will hopefully continue putting together compelling news programmes for many more years to come.
