Chris Jansing
A trusted and steady network news presence who has covered decades of American history from the anchor desk and the field.
Born 1957 (age 69)·American TV news correspondent·Birthday: January 30·Baby Boomers
Biography
Chris Jansing's career in journalism is a testament to durability and adaptability, built on a foundation of clear-eyed reporting and a calm, authoritative delivery. She cut her teeth in local television markets, honing the skills that would make her a network fixture. For years, she was a familiar face on NBC News, serving as a senior national correspondent and filling in across major broadcasts, where her versatility shone whether she was analyzing politics or reporting on a natural disaster. Her role expanded at MSNBC, where she anchored afternoon coverage known for its depth and context. Jansing's longevity is rooted in substance over spectacle; she is a journalist who prepares meticulously, asks direct questions, and conveys complex information with clarity. In an industry of constant change, she has remained a reliable constant.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Chris was born in 1957, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Chris Was Born
The biggest hits of 1957
#1 Movie
The Bridge on the River Kwai
Best Picture
The Bridge on the River Kwai
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Chris's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1957Born
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1962Started school
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1970Became a teenager
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1973Could drive
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1975Could vote
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1978Turned 21
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1987Turned 30
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 40
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 50
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 60
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 69 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as a senior national correspondent for NBC News, reporting for flagship programs like 'Nightly News' and 'Today.'
- Anchored live, breaking news coverage for MSNBC for major events including presidential elections and national crises.
- Reported from the field on significant stories ranging from the Columbine shooting aftermath to multiple political conventions.
- Hosted her own daily news program, 'Chris Jansing Reports,' on MSNBC.
Did You Know?
She began her career as a production assistant at a television station in Ohio.
She changed her professional surname from Kapostasy to Jansing, which was her first husband's surname.
She is an avid gardener and has spoken about the peace it brings her outside of the fast-paced news cycle.
“The story is not about me; it's about the facts and the people affected by them.”
