Work and family can pull you in different directions. You might feel like you’re failing at both. Your job demands more time. Your kids need you at home. Can two people really succeed without something falling apart?
Meet Paul Werdel. He’s married to Amna Nawaz, who co-anchors PBS NewsHour. She made history as the first Asian American and Muslim American to anchor a major evening news show. While cameras follow her every move, Paul keeps their family running smoothly behind the scenes.
This story shows you how Paul Werdel supports his wife’s amazing career. You’ll learn about real choices, real sacrifice, and what partnership looks like today. Want to know how couples handle work, kids, and success? These two have figured out something special.
Let’s see what we can learn from their journey.
Key Takeaways
- Paul Werdel quit his job in 2018 to care for his two daughters. This let Amna Nawaz focus on becoming co-anchor of PBS NewsHour.
- Paul worked at major news outlets like CNN, Politico, BBC World News, the Prague Post, and The New York Times. Now he works in product management at Code and Theory.
- He helps Amna deal with tough news stories. After the Uvalde school shooting in 2022, he encouraged her to try therapy.
- Paul and Amna share parenting tasks equally. Their approach challenges old ideas about men’s and women’s roles in Asian American and Muslim families.
- They protect their children’s privacy while teaching them respect, kindness, faith, honesty, and how to have fun. They blend American life with Pakistani traditions.
Paul Werdel’s Role in Supporting Amna Nawaz
Paul Werdel doesn’t just watch from the sidelines. He actively helps Amna succeed at PBS NewsHour and at home in New York City. His own media career often takes second place to support her path in journalism.
How has Paul Werdel made personal sacrifices for Amna’s career?
Paul Werdel changed everything in 2018. He walked away from his own job to become the main parent at home. Their two daughters needed someone there while Amna took on bigger roles at PBS NewsHour. This wasn’t a small choice. Paul put his dreams on hold so she could become co-anchor of a major news program.
His choice opened doors for Amna at NBC News and ABC News too. She calls what he did a “generous gift.” Most men wouldn’t make this trade. But Paul saw something bigger. He knew supporting her meant changing what families usually do. His decision showed real love and respect for their marriage and her talent.
How does Paul balance family and professional commitments?
After thirty years in journalism, Paul knows how to juggle. He worked at CNN, Politico, BBC World News, and Prague Post. His LinkedIn shows he joined Code and Theory after leaving newsrooms. People respect him as a product manager who understands digital journalism.
His children with Amna Nawaz always come first. She might be covering presidential debates or winning Peabody Awards. But Paul makes sure the kids feel safe and loved at home. Friends say he brings calm to their house. He handles school runs, homework, and bedtime stories. This lets Amna anchor big national broadcasts without stress about home life.
Paul stays out of the spotlight on purpose. He manages being a dad, having his own career, and supporting his famous wife. During Amna’s biggest moments, like moderating debates, he cheers from home. He proves you can be successful without being in front of the camera.
Impact on Amna Nawaz’s Success
Paul Werdel plays a huge part in making Amna Nawaz a star at PBS NewsHour. He pushes her to grow, backs her tough choices, and helps her shine both at work and at home.
How does Paul encourage Amna’s professional growth?
The Uvalde school shooting in 2022 hit Amna hard. Paul noticed she was struggling. He didn’t just tell her to tough it out. Instead, he suggested therapy. This kind of support matters. It helps Amna stay strong while covering difficult stories at PBS NewsHour.
By taking care of things at home, Paul gives Amna room to breathe. She can report on wars and disasters without losing herself. She can be real with viewers and other journalists. Even after tough political coverage or long election nights in Pennsylvania and Virginia, she stays grounded. Paul’s steady presence at home lets her break barriers. She’s proud to be an Asian American Muslim news anchor in the United States. And she knows someone has her back.
In what ways has Paul helped redefine their family dynamics?
Paul turned old ideas upside down in 2018. He became the main caregiver while Amna’s career took off. Most people watched Amna make history. She was the first Muslim to moderate a United States presidential debate. Meanwhile, Paul chose to stay quiet and focus on being a husband and father.
Their home life breaks the usual rules. Many Asian American and Muslim families in the United States follow traditional patterns. Not this one. Paul and Amna share everything, from picking up kids to making big choices. They keep their children’s lives private. The kids have normal childhoods even though their parents work at places like The New York Times and ABC News.
Their story changes what modern families can look like. Two strong people supporting each other equally. That’s their secret.
Paul Werdel and Amna Nawaz’s Family Life
Their home buzzes with energy. Paul and Amna fill it with stories about news, different cultures, and big dreams. They’re raising proud Asian American kids who understand both Pakistan and the United States.
Amna Nawaz and her husband protect their children’s privacy above all else. You won’t find their kids’ photos everywhere. The couple wants them to have normal lives, even with famous parents. They mix American ways with Pakistani traditions. Amna grew up as a first-generation American and Muslim. She brings those experiences to parenting.
Faith matters in their house. But so does talking about feelings and mental health. Since 2018, Amna has focused on her PBS NewsHour job. Paul stepped up as the main parent for their two daughters. They help each other through crazy schedules and long workdays.
The family believes in honesty and kindness. They value facts, just like good journalists do. But they also make time for fun and silliness. Working at places like NBC News or Al Jazeera English means long hours. Still, they teach their kids to be strong and caring. Modern parents face many challenges. This family shows you can aim high at work and still have a loving home. It just takes teamwork.
Takeaways
Paul Werdel shows us what real support looks like. He stepped away from his own career to help Amna Nawaz succeed. That takes courage and love. Their story gives marriage and family life new meaning in today’s world. They share dreams, work, and values while building careers in journalism.
Paul’s quiet strength helps their daughters see something important. Success isn’t just about awards or headlines. It’s about people who believe in each other. Every Emmy Award or breaking news story has something behind it. A family that stands together, no matter what. That’s the real story here.
FAQs on Paul Werdel
1. Who is Paul Werdel, and what role does he play in Amna Nawaz’s life?
Paul Werdel is married to Amna Nawaz, a well-known broadcast journalist and co-anchor of a nationally broadcast evening news program. He plays a crucial role as her supportive partner, often stepping back from his own career to help balance their personal and professional lives.
2. What is Paul Werdel’s background in journalism?
Paul earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He worked as an editor at Al Jazeera English and served as a news editor at other major outlets. His journey in the field of journalism shows commitment to journalistic integrity.
3. How has Paul influenced Amna Nawaz’s career?
By choosing to step back from his own work, Paul allowed Amna more space for her demanding roles, including moderating United States presidential debates and anchoring national political coverage for NBC News specials like Inside the Obama White House.
4. Are there any awards or honors connected with their careers?
Amna received an Emmy Award for NBC News’ series The Plastic Problem and election coverage; these achievements highlight both her influence in journalism and Paul’s support behind the scenes.
5. What do we know about their family life?
Paul tied the knot with Amna Nawaz after meeting through shared interests in reporting on race and ethnicity issues within the United States census context. They are parents to two children; together they navigate faith traditions such as Islam in America while raising their family.
6. Why do people ask about Paul Werdel when discussing future journalists or media trends?
People mention him because he models understanding between partners who share big dreams but different paths—his decision-making bridges gaps between traditional news values and new directions for the next generation of journalists interested in integrity, professionalism, and real-world impact within American media circles like ABC News or Democratic Party events.
