Features

Photo Credit: Jörg Meyer

by jonathan soroff

CNN personality Erin Burnett, 35, was raised in Maryland and graduated from Williams College. She began her career in investment banking but transitioned to journalism and became the anchor of Street Signs and cohost of Squawk on the Street on CNBC. She has worked for Morning Joe, NBC Nightly News, Meet the Press and as a substitute anchor for Meredith Vieira on the Today show, not to mention appearing as a boardroom advisor to Donald Trump on The Apprentice. In October, she joined CNN and launched her new program, Erin Burnett OutFront. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and was named one of Fortune magazine’s “Top 40 Under 40.” She lives in New York City.

Jonathan Soroff: OK, to begin with, doesn’t “OutFront” sound like a lesbian issues show?
Erin Burnett: [Laughs.] Well, I will say that when we ran it through legal, there were some gay and lesbian groups who have used that name. But, hey, they’re out there pushing the envelope, and so are we, so that link is absolutely great as far as I’m concerned.

So you travel like a maniac. Top-three travel tips?
Never check a bag is number one, two and three. It’s really important. After that, I’d say wearing clothes that are comfortable enough to sleep in on the plane but when you get off, you still look presentable. And using frequent flier miles to their full advantage.

Places you’ve been to for work that you’d go back to for a vacation?
I’d like to go back to Iran, if we’re ever allowed. I’d like to see more of Russia. And I only went to South Africa on assignment, so that’s pretty high on my list.

You’ve described your style as less polished than other TV journalists.
I have bad posture. Physically, people might come to the conclusion that I’m really relaxed, but that’s actually what it is.

Is there anything you’d change about your appearance if it weren’t for your job: a nose ring, leopard-print miniskirts?
A nose ring? No. But you always have the opportunity to get a little wild with your shoes, a little pop of color or dazzle.

Most ridiculous lengths you ever went to for a story?
Oh, there are lots. But one that comes to mind is lying in an ambulance plane to get into the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Fox News: fair and balanced?
It’s a great moniker.

Is Al Roker secretly the meanest man on TV?
No. He’s the ultimate example of being yourself on camera.

Which would be a bigger honor: being impersonated on Saturday Night Live or the punch line of a joke made by the president?
It depends on the joke, because who wants the president making fun of them? So I guess I’d have to go with Saturday Night Live because it’d be better than knowing the president secretly hated you.

Reporter you most admire?
There are a lot. But Tom Brokaw has been a really great mentor to me over the years. I’ve learned a lot from him. I also really admire Lesley Stahl. She’s done so many different things so well, showed a lot of range, and I think sets an example for doing what you really love. Meredith Vieira, too, because she’s at the top of her game but pulled back a little professionally to focus on other things in her life, and when she wanted to reengage, she did it on her own terms. She didn’t let the beast or the machine take over.

Is The New York Times still the newspaper of record?
In some senses, yes. Their attitude has always been that their front page should be the front page for the world and not just New York. And they still have the International Herald Tribune, so I would say that it’s a benchmark around the world. I do use a lot of other newspapers from around the world, though.

What’s your favorite source of information?
I can’t tell you that! Trade secrets! I do have sources that I use in South Asia and the Middle East that I find interesting, to see their op-eds and takes on things we cover. It doesn’t surprise me when they’re different, but it surprises me how often they’re the same. Especially when it comes to issues where you’d expect them to be radically different.

Any guilty pleasures, like Dlisted, Us Weekly, TMZ?
I read all those weekly magazines at the gym, but with the new job, I haven’t quite figured out how to get to the gym. But when I do, I read them on the bike, which doesn’t say much for my workout regimen, I know.

Will you please tell Donald Trump that his hair ought to be a toilet seat cover?
I had a great hair moment with him. We were at CNBC doing this thing with an audience. This kid came out with his hair done in inch-and-a-half spikes. Donald doesn’t usually let people touch his hair, but he and this kid were touching each other’s hair. It was hilarious. I like how Donald can laugh about those things.

Do you miss investment banking at all?
Nope.

It’s not considered as sexy as it once was.
It never was sexy. That always made me laugh. Investment banking is just really, really long hours for junior people. It’s about not sleeping for a long period of your life. That’s not sexy.

How do you straddle the line between being entertaining and presenting information that’s a downer?
That’s our challenge. I think it’s what people want; they want both. But it’s difficult, and it’s important to segment properly.

Think you can get Anderson Cooper to have dinner with me?
For a fee, maybe. I’ve got a lot of people asking that, and I think it could become a nice little cottage industry. But I think CNN has a $50 gift limit.

Gay marriage, pro or con?
I can’t comment on a political issue. Sorry.

So no comment on the Occupy movement?
Well, I will say they’re passionate and tireless…

And probably good for the camping gear industry.
[Laughs.] Maybe.

Does the network control your look?
They don’t, but I’m sure if I did something they didn’t like, they’d find a way to say something about it. So far, they haven’t, so that’s a good thing.

So you, Chris Mathews and Shepard Smith get on an elevator together. What happens next?
We’d all go out for a beer.

Credits:

Styling: Leila Wolford/artistbytimothypriano.com

Makeup: Anthea Liontos

Hair: Merita Neziri