Lisa Desjardins Biography
Lisa Desjardins is a well-known American political journalist and serves as a correspondent for PBS NewsHour. Throughout her career, she has also been associated with the Associated Press and CNN Radio, covering five U.S. presidential elections up until 2018.
Desjardins kicked off her journalism journey at WBTW from 1998 to 1999. After her time there, she took on freelance reporting roles for The Sun News and Reuters. In October 1999, she became a political reporter for WIS, all while continuing her work with Reuters. During this period, she reported on the South Carolina Legislature, the debates over the Confederate flag at the State House, and the 2000 Republican presidential primaries.
Remarkably, she returned that same evening to report on the resumed certification process, staying on air until the early hours of the next morning. In 2022, PBS NewsHour was honored with a Peabody Award for its coverage of the events, with Desjardins standing out as the only reporter broadcasting live from outside the lockdown zone within the Capitol.
Age
Lisa Desjardins was born on January 29, 1972, in Hawaii, U.S. That makes her 54 years old as of 2026, and she proudly holds American nationality.
Education
Lisa Desjardins earned her bachelor’s degree from the College of William and Mary and went on to get her master’s from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Additionally, she completed a first-level graduate degree in Russian Studies at the Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia.
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Husband
Lisa Desjardins has been happily married to Jason Desjardins since 2007. Together, they have a son who was born in 2016, and they make their home in Alexandria, Virginia.
Lisa Desjardins Career
Desjardins kicked off her journalism journey at WBTW from 1998 to 1999. After her time there, she took on freelance reporting roles for The Sun News and Reuters. In October 1999, she became a political reporter for WIS, all while continuing her work with Reuters. During this period, she reported on the South Carolina Legislature, the debates over the Confederate flag at the State House, and the 2000 Republican presidential primaries.
In 2003, she made the move to the Washington, D.C., bureau of the Associated Press, where she tackled significant national stories, including the 2004 presidential election, Medicaid issues, hurricanes, and the Iraq War. She later joined CNN in 2005, where she spent nine years as a Congressional correspondent for CNN Radio, also contributing to CNN.com and the network’s television coverage. Her reporting on the devastating 2010 Haiti earthquake earned her a Sigma Delta Chi Award. Additionally, she played a role in CNN’s acclaimed coverage of the 2008 presidential primaries, which won a Peabody Award. While at CNN, she co-authored the book “Zombie Economics: A Guide to Personal Finance” with Rick Emerson. She departed from CNN in 2014 due to layoffs.
Desjardins became part of PBS NewsHour in October 2014 as a political reporter and was elevated to Political Director in July 2015. Currently, she holds the position of Capitol Hill Correspondent, reporting from both the studio and the U.S. Capitol, while also providing written analysis for the program’s website.
On January 6, during the United States Capitol attack, Desjardins found herself inside the Capitol, covering the certification of the 2020 presidential election results when rioters stormed the building. Even after being assaulted, she kept reporting live throughout the chaos and was eventually evacuated alongside lawmakers and staff.
Remarkably, she returned that same evening to report on the resumed certification process, staying on air until the early hours of the next morning. In 2022, PBS NewsHour was honored with a Peabody Award for its coverage of the events, with Desjardins standing out as the only reporter broadcasting live from outside the lockdown zone within the Capitol.
Lisa Desjardins Wikipedia
She covers all things U.S. politics. Additionally, she is a veteran Capitol Hill reporter who passionately loves the job but is not easily impressed. Specialty: understanding complicated stories and conveying them clearly, while not oversimplifying.
She is fluent in both Democratic and Republican. Her coverage of Congressional, presidential, and key state elections. Policy nerd who reads bills. She filled in at the White House under both Biden and Trump.
Lisa reported live from inside the U.S. Capitol and amongst the rioters during the January 6th attack. Her journalistic roots are in South Carolina with great appreciation for Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nevada.
She also covered U.S. Congress, politics, and policy in America for radio, television, and digital news networks. Lisa regularly breaks news and advances national stories. Her wide array of creative writing online uses different formats to best tell the story. She focuses on the effects of politics on people and communities.
Lisa Desjardins illness
Following a vehicle door accident that resulted in Lisa Desjardins wearing an eye patch, there have been no further updates or reports regarding her health.
Lisa Desjardins Salary
Desjardins receives an annual salary ranging from $42,544 – to $90,769. However, details about the exact salary he earns are currently unavailable.
Lisa Desjardins Net Worth
Lisa Desjardins, a correspondent and reporter has an estimated net worth of $1 million.