Margaret Larson What’s Life Like in Retirement

20th Anniversary 9/11

....page 10

CELEBRATING LIFE AFTER 50

NorthwestPrimePrimeTimeTime FREE

www.NorthwestPrimeTime.com VOL. 21 NO. 5 Fall Edition 2021

A New Chapter for Margaret Larson

...by Debbie Stone

Most people in the Seattle area are familiar with Margaret Larson as the face of KING 5’s New Day Northwest, a position she held for ten years.

We grew accustomed to seeing this personable, empathetic and well-informed woman demonstrate high-caliber journalism day after day. And we relied on her to provide a topquality program, to be our conduit to all that was happening in the region.

Her curiosity and desire to connect with her interviewees and her audience made her a standout in the arena. She put others at ease with her warmth and sincerity and knew how to engage us with her stories. And because she cared about the issues and wanted to help, we did too.

Some, however, don’t know that Margaret Larson’s impressive 35-year career also included stints as a London-based foreign correspondent for NBC News and as a news anchor for the Today show, as well as a reporter for NBC and anchor at KING 5. Dateline Margaret Larson, long-time national journalist, retired last year after hosting KING 5’s “New Day Northwest” for 10 years. Photo courtesy KING 5.

Over the years, this consummate Margaret professional attended high school received numerous in Lubbock, Texas, accolades and where she was on awards for her the debate team – work in the field a pursuit you can – a whopping imagine brought her four Emmys, two much satisfaction. national Clarion “I liked talking,” she awards, three says with a laugh. Telly awards and a “Talking was my National Society favorite subject in of Professional school – that and Journalists award. anything to do with

It’s not often that one knows which path to where he was deployed...if or reading and writing.” follow when they’re young, but Margaret had when he could come home. I She also participated laser focus by the time she was in high school. determined I wanted to be a in theatrical

“I knew I wanted to be a journalist,” she says. reporter early on.” productions and enjoyed singing and playing “As a kid, I was a ‘news nerd’ because my father Margaret moved around while growing up, the piano. Music is still very important to her was a pilot in the Air Force. And the news, living on different military bases, depending on today and her listening tastes are quite eclectic, particularly the international news, determined where her father was stationed. She remembers ranging from rock and metal to rap and what she the first time labels as “political hip hop.” the family Margaret did well in school, but never moved to a considered herself to be an uber academic. house off base in “Education and good grades were important Austin, Texas. though,” she emphasizes. “My parents instilled “It was a pivotal that in me, along with a strong work ethic. Both experience my mom and dad came from modest means and for me,” she experienced struggles in their lives. They knew comments, what it was to work hard to achieve your goals.” “because She adds, “I think one of the most important we were in things they taught me was to take opportunities an actual as they present themselves. That guidance neighborhood.” has served me well, both professionally and She adds, “I personally.” had this giant The first real TV job Margaret had was while Margaret Larson, then the “Today” show news anchor, poses with (from left) weatherman Willard Scott, hosts Katie Couric and Bryant Gumbel, and film critic Gene Shalit in the mid-90s. curiosity about how people she was in college at a small station she describes Photo courtesy of NBC. lived.” continued on page 18

(l-r) Margaret as a little girl; Margaret with her son Kyle (who is now 28) shortly after moving to Washington; Margaret with her husband Tim and son Kyle. Photos courtesy of Margaret Larson.