Rising Stars: Meet Scottie Nell Hughes

Today we’d like to introduce you to Scottie Nell Hughes.

Scottie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Starting off as a Kids 2 Kids Reporter at WKRN in 8th grade, I knew I always wanted to go into TV news. While attending Brentwood High School, I was very active in the school TV news program which was one of the first in the State. Thanks to the school’s forensic and debate program under the care of Ms. Medlin, I was the 1998 State TV Broadcasting champion. This along with other volunteer activities around the community helped me earn a Communication scholarship to the University of Tennessee at Martin where I graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BA in Broadcast Communication and a Minor in Political Science. I always had the goal of having a job before graduation and because of my love for my parents and Nashville, joined the sales staff at Fox 17/UPN30 a few days after graduation. After a year and a half in sales and following an introduction at a Rotary meeting to morning talk radio host Steve Gill, I joined the WWTN team as a producer mainly handling the Steve Gill Show but also helping with station promotions for the late Phil Valentine.

This allowed me in my young 20’s to travel to the war zones of Iraq, Kuwait, the detention facilities in Guantanamo Bay, and of course all of the traditional political stops like important primaries and conventions. Upon finding out I was pregnant with my first child, I decided to take a break and focus on my family and my community. During these years at home, I was able to help with various service projects around Nashville and Hendersonville including the clean-up following the 2010 flood. By 2012, I was being pulled back into the political ring and what was supposed to start out as behind-the-scenes helping a few local and national radio shows, ended up putting me in front of the camera with an invite to join the Politichicks which was an online show of women with various backgrounds discussing the political topics of the day. From there, I helped launch one of the first online news organizations TPNN.com, and had the honor of interviewing some of the top names on both sides of the aisle. Following the devastating Sandy Hook Shooting, I wrote an article that detailed my own family’s tragedy with gun violence which caught the eye of Pierce Morgan who at that time was on CNN and I was booked for 2 very heated shows regarding the issue of gun ownership in America.

This launched my career on the National broadcast networks as a pundit rather than a reporter. After spending 100+ hours on Fox News and MSNBC, I eventually signed as a contributor for CNN during the 2016 election cycle. My career has gone international over the last 5 years by hosting News Views Hughes on RT and RT America as well as regular appearances on Sky News and the most recent launch Great Britain News. This has given me the opportunity to cover breaking political news live from Vietnam, Argentina, France, and the UK.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
My number one struggle has always been the balance of family and work. While Nashville has definitely grown in its appeal, the broadcast networks still are mainly based out of DC and NYC. My husband and I have strong roots in Middle Tennessee both personally and professionally and have always wanted to raise our children here. We knew this decision would have a negative impact on my career path but this was non-negotiable. The struggle to meet the demands of a job mainly in another city while staying very engaged in my family’s lives as well as being a caregiver to my parents is one which is constantly changing depending on the news of the moment. When I first hit the networks, I was one of the few moms present which meant there was not much grace given to us. In fact, often our home life had to be kept out of the workplace. Over time, I have seen great strides in recognizing moms in the workplace are extremely valuable and that newsrooms should do what they can to accommodate.

The other challenge has been superficial yet it has been a personal struggle because I didn’t fit the “look” of those in front of the camera on TV news. Following a news director in college telling me I would never make it because I didn’t look like all of the other petite reporters who overwhelmingly filled newsrooms at the time, I knew something needed to change as those who spoke the news should be more reflective of their audience. Being 5’11 and on the curvy side, most old-school news directors never would give me a chance from the moment I walked into the room. Thankfully, this too is also evolving as nothing gives me more hope for the future of journalism, than traveling to a city and seeing a wide variety of colors and sizes of females in the anchor chair.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As an anchor/reporter: No story is one-sided and I try to always give the viewers the full picture and let them decide.

I strive to give time equally and fairly to all of my guests regardless of my personal opinion. As a pundit: I try to show respect to the other side when debating. Hoping the audience will do the same when they have their own debates with those they disagree with.

I am most proud of my family. Despite everything which has tried to hurt us, we have always stayed together and supported each other. Politics and media are the two most savage industries and my husband and I are active in both and always stand with each other knowing our goal is truly to make our community and the world a better place for the future. No agenda but that.

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I have close friends on both sides of the aisle. Sadly, in today’s society.

It is easier to demonize someone who you don’t agree with than to try and find something you can agree on. I actually value the opinion of those on the other side and we grow more when we find common ground we can agree with rather than dismiss the other person completely. I also don’t like to argue as rarely does it produce positive results.

On a personal note… I am a huge dog lover and always have a full house of fur babies.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @scottienell
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scottienellhughes
• Twitter: @scottienhughes