By Emma Kirkpatrick
From being senior class president to valedictorian, Outstanding Woman of the Year, and an NC State athlete, Carla Babb, an NC State graduate with degrees in political science and communication and minors in journalism and math, is taking the international world by storm as an award-winning news reporter for Voice of America, the official broadcast institution of the United States government.
Carla Babb reporting from Washington, DC
Babb attended NC State from 2002–2006, and she quickly became involved with student government, sports and everything in between.
“NC State was a place where you could do whatever you wanted to do. I had great teachers, including Dr. Edward Funkhouser and Rod Cockshutt. Professor Cockshutt made us read the newspaper everyday, and while that’s time consuming for a college kid, that made me a better reporter because I had to go that extra step to be as informed as possible,” said Babb.
After helping with a campaign her freshman year, Babb decided to run for senior class president a few years later. Some of her favorite accomplishments include creating a committee for seniors with one representative from each college, helping seniors secure tickets to football and basketball games and starting the traditional Ram Roast, a pep rally with athletes, cheerleaders, dancers and the band to prepare for upcoming games against UNC.
Babb reporting on the Voice of America set.
After graduating from NC State in 2006, Babb went straight to graduate school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to study journalism on a Park Scholarship, a prestigious award based on accomplishments in scholarship, leadership, service and character.
“All my friends at NC State said I was a traitor for going to UNC, but most people understood that I couldn’t say ‘no’ to a Park Scholarship.”
The summer between her undergrad and graduate school was essential because she interned at Voice of America, and this internship made a huge difference when she applied for a job with the same organization a few years later. Her other internships included working with her local congressman in the nation’s capital, which she said helped her become familiar with Capitol Hill and how things worked in Washington.
“Internships are crucial. They’re where you make contacts. It’s essentially how I got my current job,” said Babb. “Do everything you can to not just make the coffee. Be hands on, and do everything to the best of your ability.”
Now a full-time reporter at Voice of America, Babb is able to reach hundreds of millions of people around the world by reporting news.
“I’ve reported on the White House, electronic dance music and an election in Africa all in one week,” said Babb. “You have to know a lot about everything to be a reporter, especially during weeks like that.”
From discussing budgets at the Pentagon to traveling to Ukraine to watch troops train for battle, life as a journalist can be crazy. There is no such thing as a day-to-day schedule.
Secretary of Defense Ash Carter briefs members of the press aboard an E-4B jet April 6, 2015. Carter is on a visit to the U.S. Pacific Command Area of Responsibility to make observations for the future force and the military’s shift to the Pacific. DoD photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Sean Hurt/Released.
“Getting things right is a challenge for journalists. Sometimes people don’t want to give you the whole story, and you have to ask the simple questions,” said Babb. “But it is always rewarding to know that you made a difference.”
Since becoming VOA’s Pentagon correspondent in 2014, Babb has had the opportunity to travel to Brussels, Japan, Korea and Hawaii, but one of her most memorable trips was to DARPA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Here she got to see all kinds of new projects, including Plan X, a cyberware program employed to serve the country’s national defense, and Memex, a software program that can ultimately help stop human trafficking.
“Journalism is challenging, and it is not always going to be for everybody. You will find your passion, and when you do, don’t give up on it,” said Babb.
When she isn’t breaking a news story, Babb enjoys spending time with her friends and family, running and reading. She finds balance between her professional and personal life by relaxing and listening to music with her husband, even though she thinks life as a journalist is never truly balanced.
Babb continues to perfect her writing and reporting skills. One of her goals is to get a story onto 60 Minutes. She is even considering writing a book about the history of her county, but for now, she is content with reading an already published book about Harnett County.
“I want to get better everyday. I’m a planner, but I’m not going to say this is exactly where I’m going to be in five years. There is still so much to learn,” said Babb.
For now, Babb continues to do what she loves — cheering on the Pack. Her love for sports and all NC State has to offer will always bring her back to North Carolina. Go Wolfpack!