Yardley native Hallie Jackson is really someone to watch, figuratively and literally. She's the senior Washington correspondent for NBC News, and she anchors Hallie Jackson NOW weekdays from 5-7 p.m. ET on NBC News NOW, as well as Sunday’s NBC Nightly News.
Hallie admits she loved her time growing up in Yardley. "My early jobs had nothing to do with journalism. I manned the LMT pool snack bar for many summers, flipped countless burgers and served Chipwiches to hungry swimmers, and came home every night smelling so much like fryer oil that I had to change out of my uniform in the garage. I had a short-lived stint working the register at a pizzeria by Oxford Valley Mall, and I also tutored kids for a couple summers near Fallsington," she recalls.
After graduating from Pennsbury High School in 2002, she graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a bachelor’s degree in political science.
While she used to visit Yardley often to see her parents, David and Heidi Jackson, they retired to Florida in 2020.
"I was incredibly honored to be inducted into Pennsbury’s Hall of Fame inaugural class a few years ago, and traveled into town for a special ceremony alongside my mom and my best friend from Yardley. Back in the day, we became close while riding the bus together to Charles Boehm Middle," she states.
Local community elements seeped into Hallie's personal nature, shaping her trajectory.
"Coach Ski, or Frank Sciolla, made an indelible impression on me during high school by helping me with college essays, and was always down for a quick chat. I was shocked to hear he remembered me as a student when he made remarks during Pennsbury’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony. I teared up. It was an emotional night in every way," she says.
"And my forensics coach was a huge influence on me, too! Former district principal Donna McCormick-Miller, Mrs. M&M, greeted me on my very first day of fourth grade. I’ll never forget her asking that terrified 9-year-old if she wanted to meet her new class. She later worked closely for many years with my mom at Makefield Elementary."
Hallie went on to anchor NBC News’ “Decision 2024” coverage. In April 2024, she became the Sunday anchor of NBC Nightly News. Since launching Hallie Jackson NOW in the fall of 2021, this self-professed fast talker covered breaking news stories each weekday night. Helmed from Washington, D.C., she also takes the show on the road, anchoring live from major events. In February 2020, she co-moderated the NBC News and MSNBC Democratic presidential debate in Las Vegas, with nearly 20 million viewers.
In previous jobs, Hallie reported from NBC News’ Los Angeles bureau in 2014; was a national correspondent for Hearst Television in Washington, D.C., and worked at WFSB-TV in Hartford, Conn., and WBOC-TV in Salisbury, Md.
While journalism seemed to always attract Hallie, she considered a few other career paths.
"Years ago, I found an old binder I’d made during my freshman year of college, where I’d organized all my potential career pursuits. I loved to write, tell stories, ask questions and get creative, and was thinking about what careers could check those boxes," she explains.
"I’d looked at advertising copywriting, even before "Mad Men" became a hit, and jobs related in political science, but once I spent time in college doing broadcast, I knew I’d found what I wanted to pursue."
Hallie landed a series of internships at WBAL in Baltimore and says working with the team there, including sports anchor Gerry Sandusky, set her on the path she's still on.
Now, as a big believer in the power of streaming, and "a total Kool-Aid drinker on the strength of fast, free news programming that’s accessible to everyone at any time," Hallie loves what has been built at NBC News NOW. "We see so much growth every year in our audience and who we reach. I hear from viewers that they’re watching most nights, they’re tuning in for breaking or rolling coverage, and they’re coming back after huge developments," she says.
Even though journalism is incredibly competitive, Hallie assures it's also a total team sport. "None of it would be possible without supportive and collaborative colleagues."
When Hallie can get a break from the news firehose, she's been enjoying the Good Hang with Amy Poehler podcast. "It’s a big hug. And I try to keep up with my book club’s monthly picks, although finding time to finish our selections can be hit-or-miss these days."
Regarding hobbies, Hallie says, "We’re on our bikes around the city and in our neighborhood, commuting to school and work. I’ve tried to pick up both knitting and needlepoint over the last year in my search for a tactile hobby, but I’m legitimately terrible at both so far."
She says she's looking forward to spending time with her daughter, Monroe, and partner, Frank Thorp, for Mother’s Day. "Ro," who was named after Hallie's great-great-great grandfather on her mother’s side, just turned 6 this spring, and they dress up together to do a fancy brunch.
"I also love making sure my own mom gets her flowers on Mother’s Day," she adds.
Hallie shares she values many life mantras, but her team hears often about “dovetail joints." By that, she means being exceptionally precise in crafting small details to add strength to results.
Hallie Jackson NOW can be viewed on NBC News NOW at NBCNews.com/watch.