Photo courtesy of CBS
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CBS News’ streaming service scored a coup with the selection of CBSN anchor Elaine Quijano as moderator for the Oct. 4 debate between vice presidential candidates Tim Kaine and Mike Pence.
Quijano becomes the first anchor of a digital news service to land a moderator slot in one of the national general-election debates organized by the Commission on Presidential Debates.
At 42, the Filipino-American native of Chicago is also the youngest journalist to moderate a national debate since Judy Woodruff served in the role at age 41 in 1988. Quijano’s solo outing in the 90-minute VP debate, to be held on the campus of Longwood University in Farmville, Va., will surely boost her profile with the general public.
Quijano is a rising presence at CBS News. She is the weekday anchor of CBSN, the digital news network that launched in November 2014. She has been the face of CBSN’s political coverage, serving as main anchor of the service’s extensive coverage of the Republican and Democratic nominating conventions, among many other events during the unpredictable 2016 race.
Quijano also anchors the Sunday edition of “CBS Weekend News” and is a contributor to the weekday “Evening News with Scott Pelley” and “CBS This Morning.” For CBSN, Quijano spearheaded a special report on Mexican-American supporters of Republican candidate Donald Trump that drew attention when it premiered in June.
“Her perspective, dedication to political reporting and important role on CBS News’s live-streaming platform make her an ideal choice to lead the only vice presidential debate this fall,” said CBS News president David Rhodes.
Quijano, who is based in New York, was not available for comment following Friday’s announcement of the debate moderators.
Quijano joined CBS News in 2010. Before the advent of CBSN, she covered a variety of national stories including the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, the Boston Marathon bombing and the devastation caused by Superstorm Sandy.
Prior to CBS, Quijano worked for CNN and CNN Newsource, covering the White House during the George W. Bush and Obama adminstrations. She was part of Newsource’s coverage team during the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. She’s also done reporting from overseas hot spots including Kabul, Kuwait City and Islamabad.
Early on in her TV career, Quijano was a reporter for WFTS-TV in Tampa, Fla., and for WCIA-TV in Champaign, Ill.
News story from Variety