CNN’s Soledad O’Brien has carved quite a nice niche for herself as the anchor/reporter for the network’s In America documentary series. It started off with 2008’s "Black in America" and since then the unit has produced five more, chronicling the struggles of Blacks, Latinos and gays, as well the Black church and next month's look at life in New Orleans five years after Katrina.

O’Brien spoke with MyJet247.com about that series, how she balances work and family and her proudest moments.

Q/ Did you always know you wanted to be a journalist and tell stories?

A/ I was pre med in college and always thought I was going to go to medical school and not for any real reason I just felt like it was the right thing to do when I was in high school. I was a candy striper and I got my nurse’s aide certification. So, when I decided not to go I was just completely perplexed because I hadn’t thought of another career. I had started working at a TV station, WBZ, in Boston. It was surprising to me how immediately I thought ‘Oh, this is exactly what I want to do!’ And it kind of dawned on me that everything that was happening around me was very exciting and I sort of thought I could be really good at this. I always liked writing and telling stories.

Q/ What was your goal coming to the documentary unit from the anchor desk?

A/ For me personally, it was about being very involved in the story. In some ways that relates back to only being able to do six a year because in some documentaries someone stands up and does a little chit chat. I was very interested in going through the entire experience, which means you’re on planes a lot and you’re there when things happen. That’s the kind of reporting that I’m interested in doing. It’s very similar to breaking news where you’re just knee deep and you’re there and you know every moment and every movement.

Q/ How do you balance life with your husband and four kids with such a busy work schedule?

A/ First of all, my husband is great, he’s just amazing. We sort of swap that back-and-forth. I don’t think we ever aim for balance. I just don’t feel like I ever get balance. I just think that we have sort of realized if you want to do the things that you want to do and you want to do them well, if you’re a mom, or doing your job, you’re just going to have to deal with a little bit more chaos and frantic running than most people. What I have tried to do is limit the travel so that I’m not gone for long stretches of time and that’s kind of hard when there’s a disaster like Katrina or the Tsunami. It’s kind of worked out because I think I can travel for up to two weeks before the wheels completely fall off. And, I have help. We take our kids on trips with us. They understand what I do and even though I’m not 100 percent physically there I’m always there as their mom.

Q/ What’s been your proudest moment as a mother?

A/ You know I think my proudest personal moments are the same as every other mom and that is after the 600th time you’ve told your kid to say please and thank you. It’s like what do you say, what do you say? And then all of a sudden, unprompted, in a moment that you least expect it, some darling small child looks over at someone who just handed them a treat and says: ‘Thank you!’ And you say, ‘Yes Lord! It was worth it!’ All that effort and nagging and all that consistency. And inevitably they turn around and smack their sister on the head and all the joy is gone!

Q/ What’s been your proudest moment as a journalist?

A/ I’ve had so many great moments. I think that it was exciting working on "Black in America." I learned a lot and I think we’ll use a lot of those lessons in "Black in America 3" and if we do "Black in America 10." It’s like that was good, but let’s make it better next time. That’s the mantra for everything. I think that’s a good way to be and maybe it means I’ll be employed for the next three years. //

[Editor's note: New Orleans Rising airs on CNN Aug. 21; and Churched is scheduled for Oct. 14]