Connie Chung

Connie Chung, a pioneering Asian American journalist and former network news anchor, reflects on the life and career detailed in her memoir, *Connie*. The conversation traces her upbringing in Washington, D.C., as the daughter of Chinese immigrants, highlighting complex family dynamics, the pressure to fulfill the role of the son her parents never had, and the systemic barriers navigated as a woman in news. Chung discusses the challenges of transitioning from objective reporting to the introspective nature of memoir writing, specifically addressing the difficulty of expressing personal feelings after decades of professional detachment. She shares insights into the pervasive workplace sexism of the 1960s and 70s, the experience of being pigeonholed into "female" stories, and the realization that her career path was shaped by a unique blend of tenacity, filial duty, and serendipity.