How Vladimir Duthiers went from 40-year-old journalism school intern to success at ‘CBS Mornings’

As I delve into the captivating tale of Vladimir Duthiers, I am struck by his indomitable spirit and unwavering passion for journalism. His journey from being a shy, bullied kid who loved to read and watch movies, to a celebrated correspondent for CBS News, is nothing short of inspiring.

Last month in April, I had the pleasure of attending the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C., where I crossed paths with a well-known admirer.

In a friendly manner, Vice President Kamala Harris acknowledged that she already knew Duthiers upon their introduction.

“7:47, every day.”

As the presumptive 2024 Democratic presidential nominee, Harris mentioned that “CBS Mornings” audience can catch Duthiers during his widely appreciated recurring feature, titled “What’s Recommended.”

Every weekday morning for four minutes, he shares news events, trends in pop culture, or insights as to why a certain word like “demure” might be popular on social media with his co-hosts Gayle King, Tony Dokoupil, and Nate Burleson. If you’re curious about the latest buzz on social media, Duthiers is the one to turn to.

According to Nielsen’s findings, the television program experiences a significant increase in viewership every fifteen minutes during his scheduled appearances.

As more consumers shift from conventional TV news, Duthiers, who just marked his 10th anniversary at the network, has emerged as a figure that viewers look forward to watching. He’s now a regular presence on “CBS Mornings,” often stepping in as a co-host when needed.

Exceptionally good for someone who blossomed later in life – a man who made a daring career change in his late 30s, accumulating credit card debt as he transitioned from a financially rewarding career to journalism during a period of significant transformation within the industry.

Despite his ambition to pursue a career in journalism, Duthiers never imagined himself appearing on camera. As a first-generation American with French-Haitian roots and a name that reflects his father’s fondness for Russian literature, he often felt like an outcast growing up.

In his younger days, spending most of his time in the New York region, Duthiers described himself as someone who preferred solitude over socializing with friends. If you were to ask those who knew him back then, they’d likely say that the man on TV doesn’t resemble the individual we used to know.

By the time he turned 40, Duthiers (age 54) had spent almost two decades working in investment management at AllianceBernstein. This role brought him a substantial salary in the seven figures. Throughout his career, he resided in six different countries and traversed the globe to seal multibillion-dollar contracts with banks and governments. He oversaw a team of 21 individuals.

But that was not his original plan.

Grown up with an insatiable appetite for news, he spent his childhood days engrossed in “Today” show and “60 Minutes.” After completing his studies at the University of Rhode Island, where he was involved with the student newspaper and radio station, Duthiers submitted job applications to various news stations nationwide. Despite no replies, he considered advice from friends suggesting a career on Wall Street instead.

Despite Duthiers’ achievements in finance, he often felt out of place among his peers. Whenever he discussed serious global news with them, their reaction was typically indifferent, “Who cares? We’re closing deals,” he reminisced. When he shared his passion for journalism, they suggested he pursue becoming a TV news contributor, essentially a paid guest, to discuss business and finance matters.

“I said, I don’t want to be a pundit or a talking head. I want to be a journalist,” he said.

After accumulating sufficient funds to cover both his mortgage payments and tuition costs for a period of two years, Duthiers seized the opportunity to enroll at Columbia Journalism School in the year 2009. Simultaneously, he also applied for entry-level positions. However, due to his age and professional background, his application received some doubts.

“He stated that many well-known establishments showed no interest, as they believed his actions were due to a midlife crisis.”

As a passionate cinephile, I’ve always dreamt of being part of the action behind the camera. That dream became a reality when I managed to secure an unpaid internship at CNN. The cherry on top? I’d be working with the legendary Christiane Amanpour on her program!

Anderson Cooper, a CNN anchor, often greeted visitors to the network’s office, and he quickly took note of Duthiers, the only one among them who wore a tie.

“He just immediately stood out,” Cooper said in an interview.

As a movie enthusiast, I remember when Cooper asked Duthiers to drop by once her internship kicked off. That encounter eventually landed me a job as a production assistant on “Anderson Cooper 360°.”

“Cooper explained that one motivation for wanting to assist was because he admired how brave or daring his actions seemed. Essentially, he was putting it all on the line.”

Duthier arranged his classes at Columbia University during the mornings, then worked from midday till 11 pm, handling duties usually assigned to junior employees.

“There were days I would go home with tears in my eyes,” he said. “I didn’t even know how to type.”

Shortly following his assignment, a catastrophic earthquake occurred in Haiti. Given that Duthiers was proficient in both French and Creole, Cooper’s team decided to dispatch him along with the anchor to the affected region, where they reported on the event for six weeks consecutively.

Cooper said Duthiers was built to handle the stress.

“Cooper stated, ‘If he was 21, I’d have felt more apprehensive about placing someone in that situation.’ He simply sensed that he had sufficient life experiences and knew his own desires, so I decided to let him take on the task.'”

“He didn’t want to leave,” Cooper added.

Upon his return, CNN proposed a job as a correspondent to Duthiers, however, the initial salary was less than typical given his level of expertise. Instead of accepting the lower wage, he expressed his willingness to work without pay, a suggestion his agent had advised him never to make in the future.

Duthiers was positioned at the network’s office in Lagos, Nigeria. He received a Peabody Award for his news coverage on the over 200 girls abducted from their school by the extremist group Boko Haram. Over the subsequent two years, he traveled across Africa, the Middle East, and Thailand, reporting live on developing events for the network.

Upon his return to the United States, CBS News took notice of him due to his unique blend of youthful charm and extensive field reporting experience spanning several years. The executives at CBS News warmly welcomed this combination.

According to Diana Miller, a former executive producer at CBS’s morning show, he possessed the enthusiasm, eagerness to learn, and initial spark of a beginner, but also demonstrated the dedication and professionalism typically found in someone who had already established a successful career.

Initially brought on as a weekend reporter, Duthiers was swiftly offered positions at the morning news anchor desk. When CBS News debuted its 24/7 streaming platform in 2014, they selected him to be involved. Beyond his role on “CBS Mornings,” Duthiers also anchors for CBS News’ round-the-clock service, including a new daily program that airs on the free streaming service, where he keeps track of live news events displayed on multiple screens.

Miller developed the idea for “What to Watch” while working alongside Duthiers at CNN. She felt that the CBS morning show could benefit from a daily feature that audiences would eagerly anticipate, and thought Duthiers possessed the skills necessary to bring it to life.

Miller remarked, “He gets excited about a variety of subjects, current events, and cultural aspects.” We were confident that he’d bring the enthusiasm and enjoy himself while tackling them.

Born as a reserved child who frequently switched schools due to bullying, Duthiers found it uncharacteristic for him to express exuberance. His description as someone of “mixed racial origin” often sparked questions about his ethnicity from others.

Growing up with a lot of solitude fostered Duthiers’ passion for reading books and watching films and TV series. This pastime has proven beneficial in his interactions with actors, musicians, and writers who appear as guests on “CBS Mornings.” Notably, he had the opportunity to interview Cooper and Gloria Vanderbilt when they worked together on a book, a serendipitous moment that came full circle for him.

“They often ask me, ‘Aren’t you overdoing it?'”, I reply. “But to me, when creators invest so much emotion and effort into something they take pride in, it deserves recognition. So, yes, I’m excited!”

Duthiers is a member of a duo who won the prestigious Peabody Award. His wife, Marian Wang, serves as a senior producer for “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” on HBO, and interestingly enough, she has received not one but two Peabody Awards.

Duthiers acknowledges he’s a rare find in the rapidly shrinking news industry, and at CBS, job reductions are anticipated due to Paramount Global’s proposed merger with Skydance Media. The goal is for Paramount Global to shed 2,000 jobs, which represents about 15% of its workforce, by the end of the year. He understands that the majority of his Columbia Journalism School classmates aren’t in the field.

“By demonstrating my irreplaceable value through dedication and genuine enthusiasm for my craft, I’ve found myself in a position to secure employment. My journey at Columbia seems to serve as proof, although I’m not sure if this approach would be universally effective.”

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2024-08-20 13:32