MY NEW YORK STORY

She has held multiple roles across the most prominent TV networks throughout her tenure. Most recently, she worked as an on-air entertainment and features reporter for New York Live, correspondent for E! News while contributing at Today with Hoda & Jenna and has covered some of the most significant entertainment events of this last year, including the Oppenheimer, Barbie, and Mission Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part 1 premieres, the Met Gala, the MTV VMAs, and the Tribeca Film Festival, among many others. Joelle’s interviews have included celebrities like George Clooney, Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Jim Carrey, Zendaya, Timothee Chalamet, Julia Roberts, amongst many more.

One of the highlights of Joelle’s early career was a memorable red carpet-moment with Oprah Winfrey. During the brief time available for questions, Oprah remarked, ‘I can tell that you have it because that’s such a thoughtful question.’

As a dynamic storyteller and multimedia journalist whose passion for connecting with people drives her diverse career, Joelle also uses her platform for good by spotlighting extraordinary individuals and small businesses. 

New York Lifestyles had the opportunity to catch up with Joelle and here’s what she shared. 

This past February, you started a new role at WABC as the Entertainment Reporter. How did that come about?
So, the person in my role before was Sandy Kenyon, I’ve known him forever. He approached me and said that he would be leaving in a year, and he said, ‘I want you to go out for this job.’ I tucked it away and then February came and everything happened so fast. I had been on NBC for 15 years. Just months into this new gig, I am making it my own and feeling at home.

I know one of your first events after becoming the official Entertainment Reporter was the Oscars. Tell us more about this opportunity.
My first assignment was covering the Oscars—what a way to start a job! It was intense but seeing it all come together was what I loved most. I didn’t sleep from Oscar night into the next day, staying up to watch the show, write scripts, report, and then prepare for the early show. Saying this out loud I’m just realizing that I’m living out moments I never knew were possible. I don’t even know if I let myself dream this big.

Having a big dream job, what is your advice for others looking to make a change?
It is incredible when you think about it. I would say it’s my unsolicited advice—just start. Just do it because you often see certain people who do get ahead, and you know what the difference is? They went for it! You owe it to yourself to at least try. 

So, how did you get from accounting to entertainment? Where was the transition?
I was particularly good at math, so I went into accounting and went from KPMG to New Line Cinema as a financial analyst. I remember sitting next to the cool girls there who would always be talking about the latest movies, and I so wanted to be a part of that. When news of New Line shutting down broke, my boss took me out to lunch. I told her I wanted to try this TV thing, and she was the first to say, I think that’s a great idea. I signed up for the New York Film Academy, which changed my trajectory.

I had the opportunity to interview you for my book, You Need PR, and you said something insightful: “Social media is the new resume.” Is that how you discover many businesses you feature on air by finding them on social media?
Social media is so important. Storytelling is everything. So, it’s not about how many different jewelry stores there are, but about which ones have a specific story to share. Also, don’t be afraid to reach out to a reporter on social media and say, ‘I love your work; I’m a small business, and if you ever have a second, I would love to send you a pitch.’ And, of course, when you do that, make sure you’re following the person on social media!  

You have two children, a husband and this fantastic job. How do you balance it all?
It’s hard to be a working mom, especially in New York, but I do try to be as present as possible and give myself grace. I was interviewing Celia Keenan Bolger the other day. She said that as a working mom, you can do it all, but not all at once. 

That’s also about who you surround yourself with, right?
When you find authentic people in the industry, it’s nice to have those people in your corner. Oh my gosh, yes. I am everyone’s biggest Cheerleader and Cheerleaders surround me. I know it isn’t always easy, but a positive mindset is so important, I’m working on that every day. Life is so much better when we all lift each other up, isn’t it?