Broadcast journalism was always Irika Sargent’s dream — helping people a high priority — and Chicago the location she coveted. So, imagine Sargent’s joy at landing here last year as news anchor of CBS 2 Chicago — a station with a deep commitment to making a difference, helping lift up its audience and our city.
It was an ideal match. Since Sargent’s arrival, CBS’ ratings growth has substantially outstripped its four competitors. During our interview, Sargent demurs when asked about this success. “It’s a team effort,” she says. “The station’s make-a-difference philosophy was in place before I arrived.” She pauses, then adds, “But we are adding new elements every month, including more investigations and original reporting. I’m happy to see the growth and contribute to it. If a viewer watches and feels a connection to me … I am grateful for that.”
Gratitude and her love of work, humanity and giving back pervade our conversation, as does always striving toward excellence. Sargent is authentic, endearing and smart. She’s paying forward her success as fast as she can; within the first few minutes she references multiple events she participated in during the past week.
“Chicago hosted the National Association of Black Journalists Conference this weekend. I volunteered as a mentor,” she explains. “This business is such a small world, I like to help others trying to do TV, too.”
She recently emceed the International Women’s Forum 2016 Gala honoring women from around the world who have made a difference. “It’s not as easy for a woman to pursue her dreams internationally as it is here,” she says. “Emceeing that event made me think about how far women have come in this country and how fortunate I am.”
Sargent relishes her community interaction outside the studio. “A big part of my job is to be out in the community volunteering, not just behind a desk,” she says. “And I love it.”
She’s already enjoyed some extraordinary opportunities away from the city with this job. The station sent her to cover the Grammys, as well as the Democratic National Convention, where the work was intense and the days full of surprises — like the sudden resignation of Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Sargent slept only two hours a night. “I was listening to speakers, conducting interviews, talking on the phone with producers, writing scripts for the newscasts — all at the same time, constantly on, day after day.” No complaints though, just gratitude for the opportunity. She enjoyed her ringside seat at the historic nomination of a woman for president.
Sargent was a guest host on CBS’ “The Talk” twice, but, she explains, that is not a signal that she is network bound. “I had so much fun temporarily jumping into a different broadcast experience as a guest host,” she grins. “But news is my number-one passion and doing it in Chicago is amazing. I love this place.”
Sargent is well prepared for this job. After graduating with a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Missouri, she attended law school at Cornell University. She believed that legal training would sharpen her reporting skills and add a valuable extra dimension to her resume.
Upon graduation, Sargent detoured from her intended broadcast career path for a few years. A prestigious New York City firm lured her into a high-paying labor law job instead. Nonetheless, Sargent believes this experience also helped train her for TV. “My appearances before the judges of the Human Rights Commission prepared me well to be in front of a camera,” she says.
Despite the time demands of big firm practice, Sargent always found time to volunteer free legal services to nonprofits and underserved communities. It wasn’t long before she felt the tug toward TV reporting again. She believed she could make a greater impact — and do more to help others — there.
Sargent landed at a small station in Alabama, but was soon hired away to Houston, then Miami for a short stint before she got the Chicago call.
There are plenty of problems in Chicago for Sargent to tackle. She quickly lists several — violence, the restructuring of the police department, the schools. She shares CBS’ goals of “reporting objectively, putting faces on the issues.”
Sargent particularly enjoys in-depth opportunities to address problems and offer solutions. She emceed the Chicago premiere of “The Hunting Ground,” a documentary about sexual assault on college campuses and the difficulties victims face as they try to pursue justice while remaining students. Sargent followed this up with interviews of two survivors from Northwestern University and Anne Bent, the founder of Porchlight, a nonprofit providing comprehensive services for such survivors.
Chicago is clearly her element and we’re thrilled to have her as part of the Windy City.
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