Dear Friends,
This week, I had a real “Dorothy” moment. You know these moments – The ones where you say to yourself: “We’re not in Kansas anymore” (unless you are, indeed, in Kansas). It happened in the grocery store parking lot as I pushed my shopping cart back to my car. I saw the mailman had parked next to me and on his minivan door a decal read “Rural Carrier”.
I smiled to myself. Did you know when I first moved to Texas, I didn’t know where the postman delivered our mail? I walked into our living room and said to my husband, “Where does the mail get delivered?”
And he looked at me strangely, “What do you mean?”
I continued. “There’s no slot on our door. I don’t understand where it goes.”
And my husband Leif threw back his head laughing. “Babe, the mail goes in the mailbox…at the end of our driveway.”
What’s worse about this? I had actually seen the mailbox before – I just hadn’t made the connection about how it was used on a daily basis.
I didn’t know where the mail got delivered because I had never actually lived in a house.
I grew up in a flat in San Francisco – the mail was delivered to a slot in our entry way.
When I moved to New York City, mail was delivered to the entry way too (in a brownstone or flat) or to a lobby in a high-rise apartment building – with steel boxes you opened with a key. I honestly never had a free-standing mailbox. Ever.
So…there’s been a lot of change. More than I’ve ever experienced at one time.
But seeing the mailman this week sparked something in me. It made me think about delivery, in all forms. And how much it matters, no matter where you are.
The project I am working on (and you will see sooner than you think) addresses news delivery. Delivery is important; its crucial. Think about it. The way your mail is delivered, or your food is delivered at a restaurant, or the delivery of a joke – it’s an imperative part of the experience. The current delivery of news fundamentally fails a broad swath of the public. I am working to change that trend.
You’ve heard me say it before: I love being a journalist. From connecting with you on social media and otherwise, I understand the deep dissatisfaction with the press; in part because I share it. In order to help, I’ve had to honestly confront where my talents lie; easier said than done. My strength lies not in accounting, organization, mailbox-finding, or meal planning – It’s in story-telling and news delivery.
I like the challenge of taking a topic and figuring out the best way to package it and deliver it to the consumer; taking something very complicated, learning all about it and creatively simplifying it. That’s why I loved my work as a news anchor. And that’s why my next project provides a new way to deliver news.
Ironically…another “delivery” sparked the change that eventually led me to decide to leave Fox News and choose a different path. It’s the story of the delivery of my daughter Liberty; a story few people know and I’ve never discussed publicly. Until now.
On that day, April 5, 2016, I didn’t know what to expect; we hadn’t learned the gender of our baby but I had thought of my Liberty for a long, long time. Her name dates back to a conversation I was having with Leif while he was deployed in Iraq.
When Leif called me from the Middle East in Spring 2010, I was standing at a favorite spot at the base of Manhattan (not far from where the World Trade Center once stood) looking at the Statue of Liberty. As many of you know, when your significant other is deployed, it’s difficult to carry on a conversation over the phone. You never know when a call will come and if you connect, there’s usually a delay in the line; He can’t share with you what’s happening other than generic feedback like: “It’s busy.” So, on this day, we were doing our best to make conversation, which focused often on the future. We both knew a lot of change was coming.
I remember the chilly spring morning created a little haze around the Statue of Liberty, but she still stood as such a beauty. I marveled at the sound of the word “Liberty” and I couldn’t think of anything more beautiful than the meaning behind the word. My great grandmother filed through Ellis Island when she arrived in America from Italy. What a miraculous country that only a few generations later, I lived in New York City and worked as a national broadcast journalist – my American dream.
“What do you think of the name “Liberty”? I said to Leif.
He was confused. “For who?” he replied.
And I said, “For a little girl.”
Leif paused beyond the delay forged by the long-distance call: “I like it.
6 years later, Liberty was born.
Quick and uneventful, her delivery put me at ease. My entire pregnancy I couldn’t shake the feeling of something amiss. In fact, my daughter was born with the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck three times, yet she came into this world vibrant and strong – and like her name – a fierce catalyst.
But only a few hours after her birth, I watched her hastily rushed out of our delivery room, as I swallowed my panic wondering if I would ever see here again. I knew the moment had arrived; the moment I had instinctually felt brewing. But she wasn’t in trouble; I was.
I can vividly remember the fluorescent ceiling lights. The moment my doctor reached up and hit a red button by my bed, yelling for help. The electric energy of the team surrounding me – their urgency contrasting with the quietness one experiences in chaos when you realize you have a total lack of control.
A massive hemorrhage can defy modern medicine. When you don’t know the source of the bleeding, you can’t stop it. When you can’t stop it, it gets serious really fast. In my experience it came with little warning, violently, and led to a domino effect that frightened me to the core; my body started shaking from shock but my mind cleared and thoughts stilled. I stopped counting people at 12 as my room filled with the medical team preparing me for an emergency surgery. My husband, an experienced combat veteran, says to this day it’s the scariest thing he’s ever witnessed.
Despite the trauma, I had no lasting significant physical effects – no firm explanation other than a sequence of events set up a scenario where the hemorrhage occurred. It was no one’s fault. Simply childbirth. Despite the joys of my daughter’s arrival, I couldn’t help but replay the bone chilling experience in my own mind. The reminder of the brevity of life lingered.
That sobering reminder gifted to me on Liberty’s birthday ignited the courage to make a change. A lot happened between April 5, 2016 and June 2, 2017, my last day as a news anchor on Fox News. I’ve struggled with how to deliver that particular story to you in a way that honors my decade-long experience in its totality and complexity. Right now, I want to focus on the future.
It worries me deeply you feel betrayed by those you’ve trusted to deliver the news; it angers and disturbs me you don’t have more options. I look at my children, I think about this country, and I am moved to tears. Freedom of the press exists as one of the fundamental pillars of America. A healthy press performs an essential public service; The content is paramount but delivery, in every way, matters.
It’s this belief that propels me forward. It’s why when I have days like one this week when I’m told by a senior web engineer that my new “creation” quite possibly “broke the internet,” that I keep going. I could’ve never imagined this journey. Believe it or not, I’m asking a digital platform to perform in a way it hasn’t before, and consequently, we’re uncovering a lot of issues. It’s an invention. Real innovation with highs and lows. But it’s exciting. Invigorating. Maddening. Frustrating. I wanted to show you this venture WAY sooner than now and I haven’t had 48 hours where a new issue hasn’t popped-up. In my producer-mindset, I wanted to create a perfect moment; the perfect delivery.
But guess what?
There’s no such thing.
The perfect delivery is an honest one.
The time is now.
If you follow me on social media, you’ll see the roll out over the next week or so of my new company. I’m still getting organized and figuring out a few things. But I promised you a sneak peek for signing up for my email list and here it is: “SmartHER News.” I’ll explain more later. Right now, I want you to see this product, interact with it and experience it fresh. I’m building it for you, so let me know what you think. Be part of the solution with me.
It may sound corny, but I love the lyric in a pop song by Alessia Cara, “But, you and I, we’re pioneers.” It’s fitting I am developing this highly-technical, innovative website in the middle of rural America where the mail carrier is labeled as such. I feel proud of that. I am proud of where I live. I am proud of all that got me here. Ultimately, we all have a choice; we can trail blaze or not. This was my great move “west” like so many others before me (like my great-grandmother). I imagine the pioneers who came across this same land 100-years-ago also didn’t know where to look for mail; they had it way tougher than me. But they pursued a dream for their life as Americans. It’s my duty, our duty, to continue to build on their dream, isn’t it? Rural mail service and all.
Here’s my new project: www.SmartHERNews.com
I’ll give you the full backstory and walk you through it at a later date. I want you to experience it in full, honestly and without filter.
Email me and tell me what you think: info@jennaleeusa.com
There’s more to come. This is just the beginning of the beginning. Let’s venture together.
#LadiesFirst #SmartHERNews
With love,
Jenna
Cannot wait for future readings. You have touched me to my core.
Ms. Jenna,
Going by the name of your new company and the 2 # above, will your new venture be mostly for women, or will men enjoy it as well?
I really like the format with the flip pages.
Please make your column easier to read for those of us with old tired eyes. Black on white with a larger type would be greatly appreciated . Thanks and good luck!
There is no new adventure that unfolds without bumps in the road. I admire your courage for being so honest about the correlation between your difficult delivery and the beginnings of your new news venture. Looking forward to watching it unfold.
Love the crisp simplicity of the format! The topics of the posts are relevant to me and hone in on the important parts without being tmi. And, clicking on the cute sunglasses icon to view the streamlined posts is brilliant!😍
Looking forward to seeing more and wishing you all the best, Jenna!
Arrrgggg! Do I have to wave goodbye Jenna? “News for the modern woman”: does that mean there’s nothing for us guys who admire you, your husband and look forward to your posts?
I wish you success and a life filled with the love of family and friends.
Best regards, dave
Great article with incredible message. Enjoy reading your work and hearing your perspective on issues. Definitely feels like you are one of the good journalist.
I’m a guy so don’t forget about all your male followers out here:)
Eeeeee!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 LOVE it!! So simple! So SMART!! So innovative! Crisp, Clear, Clean!! You ROCK!!
Go, Jenna, Go!! God bless and keep you and yours!!
Bravo Jenna. God Bless. Can’t wait to experience your invention!
Absolutely LOVE this!!!!! True leadership is adding value to others. YOU do that in your storytelling! I can’t wait to enjoy this adventure with you!
I understand why, but I was sorry to see ‘division’ in your basic concept. So… different news for women and men. I am really sick of the division in this country…Thank you Obama. We had come such a long way with race relations and he did so much damage, I don’t think we’ll truly appreciate how damaged our country has been for years. Anyhow, I’m looking for unity, not division, just sayin’.
Vince Lombardi once said, it is impossible to achive perfection but if we seek perfection we can achive excellence
I wonder if you will be able to represent your news as authentic since journalist rely upon correspondence? Also will you be on television and the radio?
Great Idea ! Works so well for me,quick delivery no frizz keep it up!
Love You ! Can’t Wait !
After reading your e-mail, I can’t wait to see what is coming next! You should write a book, your e-mail was so interesting. I really find it interesting to hear how a woman who has moved from the city and a career in the spot light makes a big change in moving to the country.
Thank you for your honesty. It is refreshing and genuine. I have watched you since you started with Jon Scott on Fox and loved your “delivery”. I look forward to your journey ahead in Texas. Welcome neighbor, you are just up the highway from me!
I really enjoyed your blog! I was quite amused about your mail delivery! I grew up in Texas and knew that only businesses had ‘slots’ in their doors for mail – and still the mailman came inside to deliver mail each day and the slot was only used for weekend delivery when no one was working! Looking from your perspective, in reverse, I cannot imagine living in a flat or an apartment building in the city. I believe it is advantageous to experience both lifestyles.
I’m looking forward to watching your new endeavor develop and commend you for your fortitude and ambition.
All the best,
Pat Bishop
Hmmmm. Smarter news for the modern woman. I guess that leaves me out . . . I may just read it anyway.
You have always been one of my favorites at Fox News. You delivered the news without bias and you were genuinely kind and considerate of the guests you were questioning. I have followed your journey with interest and excited anticipation. I enjoyed your article and I appreciate you sharing the story surrounding the birth of your daughter.
I have two daughters who I love with all my heart. My only personal concern is that you make this a women’s only project. I notice the name and the hashtag referring to the empowerment of women. I believe in human rights and that we all deserve the same rights and privileges. I am a little apprehensive about this #MeToo movement and where it is heading. I believe there is some legitimacy in it but with it being Hollywood driven I also see some witch hunting going on too.
I am a 56 year old white male moderate Republican that sometimes feels that he has been under attack since the 60’s because of my race and my gender. I was a little long winded but you did ask for an opinion.
I continue to wish you the best in your endeavors and wait patiently as your project continues to evolve.
I agree with every word you wrote. As a woman, I feel like we have gone a little bit overboard with this #MeToo movement. Why can’t it be about all of us?
I love your new project Jenna, I wish you would think about the above! Best wishes.
Appreciate your support Troy! While it’s geared for women, SmartHERNews is not meant to exclude men. In fact, my husband reads it everyday. 😉 I used my experience as my inspiration and saw a need in the marketplace. It hasn’t even been a full year since I left Fox – this is very much the beginning of the beginning. Look forward to your feedback! Jenna
Jenna, I love it! This format really eliminates the irritating clicking back and forth! The layout is fun, and smart…..thanks for your persistence. Stay strong on this journey and never forget to cherish the hard moments. It is in those moments that God is forming us into the women that He wants us to be!
I appreciated the “sneak peek” at SmartHer.
I like the format you are using; it is crisp and easy to navigate.
I thoroughly enjoyed your post today. An encounter with your fragility is a great motivator and your new endeavor bodes well for all of us. Keep your faith strong, your family close and your wits sharp!
It is refreshing to see how change and evolution comes from a push into another direction, to have a vision greater than ourselves, and to act on it. Pioneering is the heart and soul of a free society, it is it’s liberty. And with the web still in its infancy, it takes a mother with fortitude and passion to foster healthy change as it grows. Congratulations, on you second child. May she grow beyond your greatest dreams and hopes, in delivering clarity in a world of deception.
Love it! Look forward to hearing from you.
You go girl… I love what you’re doing , I love what has transpired in your life to lead you to this point and I can’t wait to see how it plays out for you and for us. We need exactly what you’re talking about and we need it desperately. Thank you for sharing both your story and the excitement behind it all
It is so important how you deliver good news, bad news, mail, food,etc., especially, I would say, when one is on the receiving end. That is many times forgotten today because somehow people have begun being more concerned about the impression they will make rather than how that will affect a recipient. You were different. I always felt this respect, consideration for the other side, your guests, or, simply us, though we, in actuality, remained invisible to you ( and, please don’t laugh, but I said to my daughter many times that your mother brought you up so well! ) . It is still there, your respect for “the other”, and I loved your writing, and wish you the best, but I would expand it to all, ladies and gentlemen. We live together, not in the same house, but the same world. I’s not “me too”, it’s us!
I am with Troy on this, I am a woman, 75 years old, retired now, but had a very successful career as a senior manager in the US Army holding a position that had previously only been held by a full Colonel. I was surprised at the inclusion of #LadiesFirst #SmartHERNews
after such a well written argument in support of delivering much needed unbiased news to “a broad swath of the public”. You said “The current delivery of news fundamentally fails a broad swath of the pubic. I am working to change that trend”.
I personally believe many people are in that category and they are not just women. Please consider changing your brand to be more inclusive, we and our immigrant ancestors entered and made this country the United States of America by working together, not by division and exclusion. I also wish you well in this endeavor.
You’re doing an amazing job the look and design are wonderful, the page just flows perfectly.
Yes it’s all about
“delivery” – looking forward to more stories and information arriving with your passion – your honesty- your ability to share a story with the heart and soul of a true journalist!
Loved watching you on Fox News…and can’t wait for your new venture.
It is excellent! I really like the new smartHernews. Bullet points are all I have time for most of the time. Thanks.
Enjoyed the read and thanks for sharing. I do like the site as it is uncluttered, clean and crisp. Font is right, as is the color of the pages. No obnoxious streams, ads, etc. easy to move about and I really like the attention to detail to click and flip up pages.
As they say, first impressions are important, and as a cynical consumer of all kinds of info, you make the best impression whereas I’m glad to see what else you bring forward.
Good stuff so far, Jenna Lee.
Jenna, love what you’re doing here. It’s smart and well done. Now — an app!
A side of you who is a devoted mother and wife is happy deep inside Texas country . Another side of you who wants to perform , share, give, make her marks, contribute to her society , tell her story, being a storyteller , being heard, awaken others, and change the things for the better and for all needed this project. The website is awesome and very much up to date with all the bells and whistles. Good luck to you and hope this project gives you what you need to tell your story and contribute .
First of all, I had never heard the story of the delivery of you daughter. We can only thank modern medicine for the fact that you are still here with us! And, hopefully, with no ill affects to your daughter, Liberty. Thank you for sharing that with us.
I read your current edition of SmartHer News. You do a nice job of presenting unbiased and “real” news, in brief. I like the attached links of sources so that if I wanted to delve a little deeper, I can.
I get what your title is trying to do (pull in the female audience that may have felt ignored). But, in reading your flip-boards, I see information that appeals to both men and women (World news, politics, economics, fashion, human interest and sports). Some of the comments seem to be from folks who may have just been put off by the “Her” part of your title and failed to give the entire website a full look.
I’ll tell you what…I would hate to see what this world would be like without all of the “Hers” that we have. I appreciate my own “Her”. She has a way of grounding me when I fail to look at the whole picture, or, fail to consider all aspects of a topic. For so much of time, all of the “Hers” have put up with a “Him” dominated world of news, business, entertainment and so on. I think that I can put up with a bit of a “Her” slant on the news. I’ll read the “SmartHERNews”. Just keep throwing us “Hims” a little bone or two, also.
Love it! Love the bullit points. Love the flip pages. You share the key points of the story!
Loved you on fox and great to see this new venture.
Jen, love love love your concept! As you say, much needed…news in fact form! HOWEVER, it makes me sad that you have pushed aside half of the country and made your subtitle News for the Modern Woman. Why not make it, instead, “news for the modern READER,” and enjoy the patronage of the wonderful men in our country, including your husband!! I understand your SmartHer name, meaning it is smarter news written by you, a “Her.” You are the her in this scenario, but please please don’t alienate male readers — THEY NEED FACTS TOO!!! By the way, i am a woman but we will never be on equal footing with men as long as we feel the need to alienate, elevate, or separate ourselves from men. Thanks for considering.
Jenna, I love it. Keep up the great work.
I bet your husband had a good laugh on the mailbox , I know I did. Glad to see you’ve been blessed with a great family