Betsy Fischer

Betsy Fischer has been Executive Producer of NBC’s number one rated Sunday morning public affairs program and the longest running television program in the world, “Meet the Press," since July 2002.

As Executive Producer, Fischer has produced interviews with such key figures as President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, King Abdullah of Jordan, President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan, President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan and every 2004 and 2008 presidential candidate.  She also created and produced an award winning series of special “Meet the Press” debates with the candidates from key 2002, 2004 and 2006 U.S. Senate races.

Additionally, she has served as Tim Russert’s producer for NBC News’ coverage of Special Events and the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Presidential Election, including the presidential primaries, party conventions, debates, and election night.

Prior to being promoted to Executive Producer, Fischer was the Senior Producer of “Meet the Press” and the NBC News Political/Polling Unit for five years.  Fischer came to “Meet the Press” in 1992, starting as a political researcher.  She became the Associate Producer in 1995 and a Producer in 1997.   Her career at NBC News began with an internship at “Meet the Press” while in college.

A native of New Orleans, Fischer did her undergraduate and graduate work at American University in Washington, DC.  She is a Cum Laude graduate of their School of Public Affairs and earned a M.A. degree in Broadcast Journalism from the AU School of Communications.  She currently serves on the Dean’s Advisory Council for the School of Public Affairs at American University and on the Board of Trustees of National Presbyterian School in Washington, DC.

Fischer has been honored with several awards for her work with NBC including a News and Documentary Emmy, the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence Political Journalism, and a Gracie Award from American Women in Radio and Television.  She has been featured in several publications including profiles in Television Week, The New Orleans Times Picayune, Washington Business Journal, Washingtonian’s 50 Best & Most Influential Journalists, Washington Life’s Power 100, and GQ’s Powerful People in Washington.

Fischer has recently been awarded the honor of "Young Global Leader of the World 2008" by The World Economic Forum that recognizes 250 global young leaders for their professional accomplishments, their commitment to society and their potential to contribute to the shaping of the future world.

She is a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a member of the National Press Club, the International Women’s Forum and the Junior League of Washington.

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