With all the crazy things going on in the world, there are times that watching television news is just too depressing. But there are times, as in big crises, celebrity scandals and life-altering events like Barack Obama’s historical presidential campaign that you just have to keep up. For those times, there are just a few people that deserve your full attention.

These news personalities have delivered time and time again with exclusives, candid interviews, and in the case of the anchors, stayed calm and professional in the midst of all manner of breaking news. When something happens, you’re bound to turn to their respective networks to get the information you need.

Here’s our look at the news reporters whose smooth professionalism makes even the worst news more palatable.


BRIAN WILLIAMS, NBC

If you’re used to getting your news from polished, white men in the Walter Cronkite mold, Brian Williams is your man. But don’t hold it against him. The dapper anchor/managing editor of "NBC Nightly News" was surely sent from Central Casting to succeed popular longtime anchor Tom Brokaw, but his news reporting chops are stellar. He’s earned five Emmys and TV journalism’s highest award – The George Peabody Award. Williams’ reporting skills were displayed to millions during his coverage of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. He was first on the scene and the only reporter to cover the devastation from inside the beleaguered Superdome. His “Inside The White House” series earlier this year was an intimate look at the inner workings of the Obama administration. He doesn’t take himself too seriously though, as he’s hosted “Saturday Night Live” and made several appearances on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.”


SOLEDAD O’BRIEN, CNN

CNN’s Soledad O’Brien is Afro-Cuban and Australian, but she’s definitely made a place for herself at CNN representing for African-Americans. She was the lead correspondent in CNN's two “Black in America” series, much-discussed broadcasts that explored the African-American community. As an anchor and special correspondent, she’s covered everything from Hurricane Katrina to the Asian tsunami. O'Brien became a Peabody winner for her Hurricane Katrina coverage, and her tsunami coverage in 2004 also netted a prestigious award. The Harvard graduate joined CNN in 2003, first anchoring the popular “American Morning."


ROLAND MARTIN, TV ONE, CNN
 
The longtime journalist has had a stellar career in both the black and mainstream press as a newspaper reporter and editor, radio host, television commentator, pundit and author. Now with his TV One show, “Washington Watch with Roland Martin,” he adds a black perspective to the Sunday morning TV roundup. Martin has corralled an impressive guest list so far, giving African-Americans from the Obama administration a platform to broadcast their stated goals for the nation. His wealth of information and knowledge, as well as the fact that he’s able to hear views from other than aging white guys, has made his show a must-watch. Martin is also a CNN contributor, who appears on several CNN shows. His interviewing prowess has earned him two NAACP Image Awards.


ROBIN ROBERTS, ABC

Robin Roberts has been associated with ABC for some time now, but lately she’s been getting even more high-profile interviews. Roberts’ “In the Spotlight” specials are going well, (she just did one of the best interviews ever with Janet Jackson) and she’s been rumored to be the replacement for Diane Sawyer on “Good Morning America.” Roberts has the familiarity factor working in her favor – the 49-year-old co-anchor started at ABC in 1990 as an ESPN correspondent. She worked with “GMA” and ESPN for a decade before her “GMA” promotion. If anyone deserves a promotion for hard work, it’s .....

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