Rachel V. Scott (born May 5, 1993) is an American journalist, currently serving as the senior congressional correspondent for ABC News.[3][4]
Rachel Scott | |
|---|---|
 Rachel Scott in 2024 | |
| Born | May 5, 1993 |
| Alma mater | University of Southern California (BA) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2015–present |
| Employer | ABC News |
| Partner | Elliot Smith[1] |
| Awards | News and Documentary Emmy Award for "Outstanding Emerging Journalist"[2] |
Early life
editScott was raised in Diamond Bar, California, where she graduated from Diamond Bar High School in 2011.[5] In 2012, she was chosen as an intern in the White House Internship Program during the Barack Obama presidency.[6]
Scott applied as an undergraduate for University of Southern California (USC) but her admission was turned down. She stated, "Though I couldn't see it at the time, that rejection letter was actually pushing me closer to new opportunities, to a dream I had not yet realized."[7] She later enrolled into the University of California, Irvine (UCI),[6] and transferred into USC. In 2015, Scott graduated with a bachelor's degree from the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.[7]
Career
editIn 2016, Scott was hired as a production associate for ABC News Live. While serving as a producer for GMA Digital, she also became an on-air correspondent for the ABC news affiliate WTNH in New Haven, where she reported the weekend news.[3][4] On July 20, 2020, she was promoted as ABC News' White House correspondent and D.C. correspondent.[3] Scott became a congressional correspondent covering Capitol Hill, and during her first week on the job, she reported the January 6 United States Capitol attack.[8]
In June 2021, Scott received media attention for asking Russian President Vladimir Putin: "The list of your political opponents who are dead, imprisoned or jailed is long ... what are you so afraid of?"[9] A year later, in 2022, she was awarded the News and Documentary Emmy Award for Outstanding Emerging Journalist, which was the first year the category was introduced.[2][10]
In January 2023, Scott was promoted as the network's senior congressional correspondent.[11] On July 13, 2024, Scott was reporting at the campaign rally event, where the attempted assassination on Donald Trump occurred in Butler, Pennsylvania.[12]
On July 31, 2024, Donald Trump arrived at an interview panel before the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), where he was interviewed by Scott, Harris Faulkner of Fox News, and Semafor's Kadia Goba. Scott began her interview by repeating Trump's past statements about Black and other women of color leaders, his support of January 6 rioters, and his criticism towards diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.[13] Trump replied Scott's line of questioning was "a very rude introduction", and claimed that Scott arrived 35 minutes late to the interview.[14] Entertainment Weekly went on to report that a source at the event confirmed that the start time was actually delayed because Trump was demanding that the NABJ not do a live fact-check of his answers.[15] The interview received significant media attention regarding Trump's remarks towards Vice President and presumptive Democratic nominee, Kamala Harris. Trump responded, "I didn't know [Harris] was black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn black and now she wants to be known as black. So, I don't know, is she Indian or is she black?"[16]
Personal life
editIn January 2024, Scott announced her engagement to Elliot Smith.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b Clack, Erin (January 8, 2024). "'Good Morning America's Rachel Scott Is Engaged: 'Can't Stop Smiling'". People. Archived from the original on February 6, 2024. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
- ^ a b Schneider, Michael (September 29, 2022). "ABC, Vice Lead 2022 News Emmy Award Winners". Variety. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
- ^ a b c Johnson, Ted (July 20, 2020). "Rachel Scott Promoted To ABC News White House, D.C. Correspondent". Deadline. Archived from the original on July 20, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
- ^ a b Mwachiro, Mark (January 17, 2023). "ABC News Promotes Rachel Scott to Senior Congressional Correspondent". Adweek. Archived from the original on February 25, 2024. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
- ^ "Rachel Scott (c/o 2011) - Distinguished Alumni - Diamond Bar High School". Diamond Bar High School. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- ^ a b Johnson, Melanie C. (October 29, 2012). "Diamond Bar Resident Selected for White House Internship". Patch Media. Archived from the original on August 5, 2024.
- ^ a b Lewis, Wayne (May 12, 2022). "Rachel Scott charges USC Annenberg grads to look beyond obstacles and find opportunity". USC Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism. Archived from the original on May 15, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
- ^ Scott, Rachel (January 5, 2022). "'On my 1st day covering Capitol Hill, the Jan. 6 attack happened: Reporter's notebook'". ABC News. Archived from the original on January 5, 2022.
- ^ Neumann, Sean (June 16, 2021). "ABC News Reporter Goes Viral for Asking Putin About His Silenced Critics: 'What Are You So Afraid Of?'". People. Archived from the original on June 16, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
- ^ Donnelly, Jim (September 29, 2022). "ABC News Wins 9 Emmys® & Disney General Entertainment Earns a Collective 19 News and Documentary Emmy® Awards" (Press release). ABC News. Archived from the original on August 5, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
- ^ Mwachiro, Mark (January 17, 2023). "ABC News Promotes Rachel Scott to Senior Congressional Correspondent". Adweek. Archived from the original on February 25, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
- ^ Pereira, Evan (July 13, 2024). "Chaos at Trump rally described by ABC's Rachel Scott". ABC News. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
- ^ Bauder, David (July 31, 2024). "Trump's appearance before Black journalists leads to memorable confrontation with ABC's Rachel Scott". Associated Press. Archived from the original on July 31, 2024. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
- ^ Samuels, Brett (July 31, 2024). "Trump attacks ABC News reporter during tense NABJ interview". The Hill. Archived from the original on July 31, 2024. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
- ^ "Donald Trump calls ABC's Rachel Scott 'nasty,' 'hostile' at Black journalists convention". EW.com. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
- ^ Brown, Matt; Price, Michelle L. (July 31, 2024). "Donald Trump falsely suggests Kamala Harris misled voters about her race". Associated Press. Archived from the original on July 31, 2024. Retrieved August 2, 2024.