We had the good fortune of connecting with Elise Roberts and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Elise, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
“Faith Over Fear” As someone who is constantly pushing herself to the next level, I’d be lying if I said there isn’t a healthy dose of fear that comes along with it. Fear can be crippling IF you let it. Every single day I remind myself to put my faith over my fear. It is what drives me. It also challenges me to do something that scares me every chance I get. Whether it’s having a difficult conversation, traveling alone, making a big purchase or re-evaluating a friendship. I have to lead with faith because fear has no place in my life.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am quickly approaching 20 years in TV news. It’s crazy because I enjoy every minute of it. I’ve never wanted to do anything else other that write and be a source of information. I recently accepted a senior level position at CNN Newsource. I’ve been with the company three years and had a goal that I’m proud to say I conquered. Taking on a new position in the middle of a pandemic has not been an easy feat but I am relying on the skills I have mastered over the years to lead me. My experience in television news is very layered. I have worked in just about every single area of a newsroom. I started as a news assistant, moved on to associate producer then producer–and all this in under three months. It was during that time that I shadowed a chief photographer to learn to shoot video and edit. My big break came overnight when there was breaking news outside of the station. I grabbed a camera, shot the story, produced it and had an anchor voice track it. My news director then made me a reporter. A few years and a few moves later, I would land an anchor position and have my own show. But I knew that my career would lead me into management at some point. It was tough making the transition because let’s face it: People love being on TV. There’s some glamour to it. My family loved seeing me on TV. But I had to put my goals first. There are not that many Black women in senior level positions. I have always wanted to be one of those women in hopes of paving the way for others. This journey has been anything but easy. There were missed holidays with family, missed weddings of close friends. The sacrifices are endless but eventually they will pay off. I love what I do. I love the difference that I make and I love fostering new talent. That’s why I am a journalist. No matter what industry, there will be challenges. There will be days you want to quit. Hell, you may quit. But if you love it, you will circle back around and do the work it takes and you will shine.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I like to think I’m the unofficial mayor of Atlanta (No shade Mayor Bottoms). I absolutely love my city. I was born here and raised here and I love showing people some of the city’s hot spots while discovering new gems. We would have to hit up Buttermilk Kitchen for breakfast. Do a little shopping a Phipps. If we get hungry, we can grab lunch at The Agency. Cigar City sets the tone for a chill spot to have a smoke and the lobster mac-and-cheese is fantastic! We can’t totally blow our diets so Flower Child is a must plus we can do more shopping at the Shops at Lenox—not to mention stop by the Blo Bar where the service is excellent!

You can’t visit the A without seeing Piedmont Park and doing some people watching. I would also show off my hometown of Marietta. At some point, we would have to get hot dogs from Brandi’s Hot Dogs and take a walk through the Marietta Square. It’s a beautiful town square and is home to Sarah Jean’s Ice Cream–the chocolate chip cookie-dough paired with a homemade cone is heaven sent. Kennesaw Mountain offers the perfect climb to burn off those calories. But then again, I would convince them to blow it by going on a late night run to Slutty Vegan.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to shoutout my circle of friends for always believing in me. It is critical for me to have that connection. Especially working in a field that can be so taxing. While my circle is small, it is mighty. I speak with my close friends daily whether by phone, FaceTime or group chat. We talk about our troubles and our triumphs. We also talk about what’s next… I love that we are constantly thinking ahead. On another note, we sometimes talk about crap: like reality TV, celeb gossip and anything else to escape from our demanding careers and daily life. This is so necessary to maintain sanity in this ever changing climate.

Instagram: EliseRobertsTV
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliseroberts1/
Twitter: Elise Roberts
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