Gielan works a different 9-to-5

By Jay Bobbin, Zap2It | April 24, 2010

MIchelle Gielan

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Overnights may not be the optimum shift in television news, but somebody has to do it.

For CBS, the current anchor with a greatly rearranged sleep schedule is Michelle Gielan, who handles "Up to the Minute" and "CBS Morning News" Mondays through Fridays. Previously a Chicago anchor-reporter, Gielan is on the air up to four consecutive hours each day (depending on how much CBS news a local station carries), plus she contributes reports to "The Early Show."

"It's definitely been an adjustment," the spirited Gielan says of doing her very visible job through the wee hours. "You're working and sleeping at different times than most people, but I love what I do, so that more than makes up for it."

Joining a network news operation as an anchor is rare. Initially hired last year for "CBS Morning News," Gielan increased her air time by adding "Up to the Minute" after predecessor Meg Oliver left. "I have a wonderful agent," Gielan says, "and he introduced the folks at CBS to my (demo) tape. They were excited, I was excited, and they had the morning slot open at the time. I feel blessed and lucky, but I take what I do really seriously."

Despite working way after hours, Gielan sometimes breaks major stories. She was the first newscaster to inform CBS' audience of Sen. Edward "Ted" Kennedy's recent death.

With the gravity of much of what she reports, Gielan welcomes moments when she can inject more of her own personality – usually during interviews, sports segments or the lighter "kickers" that often end a half-hour.

"A lot of today's news, unfortunately, is very serious and sad," she acknowledges. "We're covering wars, the economic problems in this country … but there are the moments when we can laugh and have fun. The mail I get from viewers typically is about those things."

With the hours she keeps, Gielan strives to get enough rest. "I don't think anyone truly gets used to a schedule like this," she says. "It goes against the body's natural rhythm. But when I need to stay in bed from the time I get off work to when I go back, I do it."