Kaitlan Collins’ Early Days at The Daily Caller

Every major journalism career starts somewhere, and for Kaitlan Collins it started with an internship. Her years at The Daily Caller taught her the fundamentals that later carried her to network television. Here is a look at where it all began.

Starting as an intern

Collins entered the newsroom as an intern, the traditional entry point for young journalists trying to prove themselves.

Turning an internship into a job

Her work led to a full reporting role, an outcome no intern can take for granted.

Covering entertainment first

Her early assignments included entertainment coverage, a beat that teaches speed and volume.

Moving toward politics

Over time her focus shifted toward politics, the subject that would define her career.

Learning to file fast

Digital newsrooms demand quick turnarounds, and that pressure built habits she still relies on.

Understanding Washington

Working in the capital gave her an early feel for how the city’s politics and personalities operate.

Building a byline

Consistent reporting helped her develop a track record that larger outlets could evaluate.

Making contacts

Sources and relationships built in those years became valuable once she moved to a bigger platform.

The jump to CNN in 2017

Her Daily Caller experience helped position her for the move to CNN and the White House beat.

Why early jobs matter

The unglamorous first roles are often where reporters learn the discipline that sustains long careers.

Advice hidden in her path

Her route suggests that starting small and working relentlessly still opens doors in journalism.

From intern to anchor

Within roughly a decade she went from an entry-level newsroom role to hosting her own prime-time program.