Craig Melvin, TODAY Co-Anchor Reflects on His Career Journey and Spills His Most Memorable Interview

Craig Melvin has worked at NBC and MSNBC since 2011, joining as an MSNBC Live anchor through 2022, and an NBC News correspondent since 2012. The Emmy-winning journalist is also a "Dateline" anchor and has been with "Today" since 2018. Prior to joining NBC News and MSNBC in July 2011, Melvin was a weekend anchor for WRC, NBC’s owned-and-operated station in Washington, DC. Before that, Melvin earned acclaim as an evening news anchor at WIS in Columbia, South Carolina, which is also his hometown.

Reflecting on your journey from starting at an NBC affiliate in South Carolina to becoming co-anchor of TODAY, what key lessons have you learned throughout your career?

I'd say maybe the biggest lesson for me has been that hard work pays off. I remember being a young reporter in Columbia, South Carolina at WIS-TV and working, you know, 16 hour days, six days a week, sometimes wondering if it was worth it, but in the end hard work pays off. I've also learned along the way to be kind and nice to everyone in the newsroom, around the newsroom, and that's something that's served me.

If you could offer one key piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be and why?

I was always very worried about the future and how it would all play out. I was very concerned about my career and whether I would ultimately get out of it, what I was putting into it. I think I would probably tell my younger self, it's going to be okay. No matter what, it's going to be okay. And it's proven to be true time and time again for me, it's going to be okay. That's what I would tell younger Craig.

Who were your television inspirations growing up?

I grew up watching The TODAY Show during the Katie Couric, Bryant Gumbel era. That's when I fell in love with the show, and they actually helped me fall in love with broadcast news. I was fortunate enough to spend some time with Bryant recently, and I told him that that he was one of my major inspirations growing up.

What is your most memorable interview or story that you’ve covered?

Growing up as a kid in the 90s, Michael Jordan was my idol, and several years ago, I had the chance to interview him, and it was just as magical as I dreamed it would be to just sit across from someone that you have admired on and off the court for most of your most of your life. That's always one that's stayed with me. 

Conversely, in terms of impact, several years ago, I covered the church shooting in Charleston. I'm from South Carolina, and had been in that church before many times. So to be there, back in my home state, to cover something that was just so unthinkable, reprehensible that's always stayed with me, just talking to people in the days and hours after that tragedy.

How will your new position affect your morning routine?

I’m going to have to get up earlier - about 30 minutes earlier. I’ll be leaving the house at 4:30 a.m. now, so I’ll be up at 3:45 a.m. Now that I’m saying that out loud it sounds ridiculous! 
 

On a personal note, you’ve been actively involved in giving back, specifically with the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. What impact has this work had on you?

I lost my brother several years ago to colorectal cancer, and while he was alive and battling the disease, we both became very involved with the Alliance's work to get more people screened, to start more conversations around colorectal cancer, and of all the things that I've been able to do professionally, it's been one of the most impactful for me. 

Time for a few rapid fire questions!

What's your go to coffee order?
Black coffee. Nothing in it.

Most memorable celebrity interview?
Michael Jordan

Who wins the temperature battle in the studio?
Savannah, and I have brokered an agreement will be lowering the temperature by three degrees, and in exchange, I'm going to stop drinking this smelly drink (Mud.Wtr) that I drink every morning that she hates to smell.

Favorite quote or mantra?
It's actually Bible verse. It's Joshua. "Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

If you could swap jobs with any other NBC talent for day who would it be?
Jimmy Fallon, no question. No one's having more fun than Jimmy Fallon. I'm actually surprised that we pay him to do what he does and Mike Tirico is a close second.