Martha MacCallum is one of the most renowned American journalists and news anchors on Fox News who is preparing to cover this year's most anticipated presidential election between President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden. Prior to Fox News, she was an award-winning journalist for CNBC and a reporter for Wall Street Journal Television. Since joining Fox News in 2004, she cultivated her credibility covering presidential, mid-term, and primary elections. With over 25 years of experience, she is also known for her interviews with politicians of the likes of President Barack Obama, Senator John McCain, Governor Chris Christie, and First Lady Laura Bush.
Today, Martha is recognized for her show The Story with Martha MacCallum, which has, since its launch in 2017, been number one in all of the cables across both total viewers and the 25 to 54 age demographic according to Nielsen Media Research. To date, MacCallum’s show notched 2.8 million total viewers with 538,000 viewers between the ages of 25 to 45; dominating the 7 PM hour across the board on all networks. Delivering double-digit advantages over CNN and MSNBC in total viewers and the 25 to 54 and 18 to 49 age demographic, Martha MacCallum’s coverage of this year’s presidential election is anticipated by all Americans.
We sat down with Martha in a compelling interview where she discusses her perspective on the current standing of journalism in America, and most importantly, what her expectations are leading up to her coverage of the Presidential election, and topics that she believes will be of most of importance to the American public on Election Night.
**Answers attributed to FOX News Channel’s Martha MacCallum, anchor and executive editor of The Story (weeknights 7 PM/ET) and lead election co-anchor
SWAAY: Did you always want to be a reporter and news anchor? Or was there a sort of “aha” moment that ultimately drew you to your current career field?
Martha MacCallum: I always loved news, history, biographies - real stories. But it wasn’t until just after college when I was working as a waitress and going to a graduate program in NY, that a friend was telling me about her internship at CNN. Listening to the descriptions of field reporting and production meetings - I suddenly knew that was where I wanted to be. Within a few months, I got my first job at The Wall Street Journal and never looked back.
Given your educational history as a Political Science major, how would you characterize the role of journalism in the political sphere?
We live and work in a highly polarized country and my show is here to cover history, and call it fairly. You don’t find too much of that out there anymore. But the biggest compliment I get out there is - “ I watch your show and I like you because you’re a straight shooter.”
Furthermore, in an era of “fake news,” rising public distrust in journalism, and general anti-media sentiment (sometimes stemming from the president himself) has the role of political journalists (or journalistic integrity at large) changed at all? Or have these issues changed how you, in particular, approach your work?
The lines have moved dramatically, there is much more opinion in every aspect of the story-telling in news today. I think that FOX is actually under-appreciated as a news network with strong reporters on the beat and the big news of the day, from the White House to the local races to forest fires and inner-city strife, I would put our coverage at the top, by any measure. My show offers news and analysis, we allow opinions to be expressed on all sides.
As a woman in a male-dominated field, do you feel that your gender impacts your work? If so, how?
I want people to be judged on their merits, I’ve never felt held back nor have I accepted an advantage based on my gender. It rubs me the wrong way when people push for the hiring of “women or minorities.” I think it diminishes the success of all of us, when it’s suggested that any of us were chosen to check a box.
Do you feel it’s important to have more women at the forefront of politics and journalism? Why or why not?
I think if hiring and voters, in the case of politics, are fair and open, many women will rise and yes of course, you want male and female voices everywhere in news and all industries, and offices. Women are very strong and we are sometimes our own worst enemies. Work hard and push for the opportunities you want and deserve. Never sell yourself short and speak your mind. I actually think in the news the bench is deep for women, maybe deeper than it is for men.
2020 Election Coverage
Based on your work as a political journalist and preparation for your upcoming election coverage, what would you say the top five key issues of the 2020 election are?
It’s mostly a referendum on Trump. I’ve never seen such visceral hatred towards a President. Very few undecided voters. So the big issues are always the economy first, then the handling of COVID-19, unrest in our cities, China, race and education. But mostly, it’s about Trump.
Of the myriad of unique circumstances that set this election apart—from the coronavirus to the ongoing protests against police violence—is there any one thing that stands above all the rest in making this election particularly unconventional? How is this issue impacting your preparations and work as the lead political co-anchor on Fox?
The virus has changed life in America dramatically, more so in metro areas, like where I live in NY and NJ. The mail-in vote is going to likely be a game changer. We may not know the outcome for weeks and we may see the courts involved again. Fasten your seatbelt, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
As a journalist, how are you able to maintain an unbiased perspective particularly as the divide between Republicans and Democrats continues to grow? Do you find it challenging in any way, and if so, how?
Many people see things exclusively through their own lens. I get criticized at times for being “anti-Trump” and then at others for being “pro-Trump”, I see it as being fair. We press people at the White House, The Trump campaign, and at the Biden campaign. Some networks have barely questioned anything on the Biden side.
Do you have any thoughts on the “radical left”? Certain members of the Republican party seem to associate this phrase/movement with Joe Biden whereas many leftists see Biden (and the current Democratic party as a whole) as much more centrist. What does the “radical left” mean to you, and do you feel that the issue of the “radical left” will be a key topic in your upcoming election coverage?
I just go by what the former Vice President says and does. He promised that he would be “the most progressive President in history.” His running mate is ranked by her votes as the ‘most liberal’ in the Senate. There is nothing wrong with that, it’s just what is on the record. Biden has moved more to the center in recognizing the violence in our cities. He says he will not defund the police, and says he will push for a public option for healthcare, allowing people to hold onto private plans. He will be held to his long political history and record. I look forward to the debates. I hope there will be tough questions for both sides. As far as the radical left and the radical right, most Americans are closer to the center, but either party that aligns too closely with either extreme, probably will pay for it at the polls.
You’ve been previously praised for your interview with Brett Kavanaugh regarding Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s accusations against him, and we're interested in learning more about how you see the issue of sexual assault playing out in the current election.
Both Joe Biden and President Trump have been publicly accused of sexual assault. However, after initial public outcries against these instances, this knowledge seems to have faded into the background for both candidates.
Do you foresee this issue being raised as the election continues to heat up? Do you have any thoughts on how these accusations or the issue of violence, particularly sexual violence, against women may be affecting the election overall?
COVID-19 has pushed so many issues off the headlines, but believe me as the virus (hopefully) moves to the back burner, we should all be prepared for other surprises that will vie for voter attention. I believe in due process. Joe Biden’s accuser did not get much traction. But the biggest take away for me was that VP Biden pushed for zero tolerance policies on college campuses - that ended up falling short of the due process that Americans innately expect. So when it hit close to home, he was suddenly in favor of the due process he denied others. Also, Senator Harris urged us to ‘believe all women’ from Christine Blasey Ford, to Tara Reid, but now ignores the woman who claims that Jacob Blake assaulted her.
The President also has accusers. He has entered into settlements and cases have been dropped. Now in a controversial decision, the Department of Justice will defend him in the Jean Carroll defamation case. In the end, there are perpetrators and there are victims in all crimes and we have to rely on our justice system to do what the Constitution demands.
As a seasoned political journalist, do you have any thoughts on how the younger generation is approaching civic responsibility and political activism—particularly as it relates to the current protests in support of Black Lives Matter and against police violence?
I stayed right near “Black Lives Matter Plaza” in DC during the conventions. Every day I saw beautiful families gathering on those yellow words to have their pictures taken. Parents wanting their children to understand that they matter and learn the history of their people, and of these times. All of this provokes needed conversation on equality and the fairness that everyone should expect in interactions with police. But at night, on that same Plaza, the stores had to board their windows, having already cleaned up too much-broken glass. Kids in black masks shook vehicles and tried to break the windows with their skateboards. There is activism and there is violence. And I’ll say this, sadly in New York, the city I love is a shadow of its great, former self. It is dirty, broken, and unsafe. I know it will rise again, but the sad truth is that the police here and across the country cannot do their job of keeping people safe when they know the Mayor does not have their backs.
Trump has been quoted repeatedly critiquing current voting practices—particularly mail-in ballots despite having registered for one himself. He has even gone so far as to question whether or not he would accept the results, saying he will “have to see.” Has President Trump’s pre-emptive distrust of the potential election results affected how you’re approaching your coverage in any way?
Both sides have already questioned the validity of the outcome. Hillary Clinton has urged Joe Biden “not to concede under any circumstances.” There is a big difference between absentee ballots, which each voter requests and has sent to them individually, and universal mail-in, where every voter in the states is automatically sent a ballot. So I do think COVID-19 has created a unique and potentially perilous situation, where the outcome may be contested and in doubt for days or weeks.
Martha MacCallum’s special election coverage alongside Chief Political Anchor Bret Baier begins November 3rd at 6PM on FOX News.
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SWAAY Editorial