Karla Hult loves living and reporting in her home state of Minnesota. She’s forever inspired by the character and courage of the people she meets most every day on her stories.
Karla attended St. Olaf College, where she graduated magna cum laude with a double major in English and Political Science. At St. Olaf, she was also inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society. She later graduated with a Master’s of International Affairs from Columbia University in New York, where she also earned a writing fellowship.
Karla worked as a newspaper reporter before embarking on her television journalism career. She worked as a reporter and anchor in southern Minnesota and Ohio before returning to her home state for a reporting job at WCCO-TV. She soon decided to cross the street to her “TV home” at KARE 11, where you'll find her both reporting and anchoring.
At KARE, Karla has received multiple awards, including the prestigious Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Political Journalism. But she remains most proud of her advocacy work against Alzheimer’s Disease and for refugees. In fact, Karla’s work documenting her dad’s own Alzheimer’s journey -- in "So Many Goodbyes" -- ranks as the most difficult but rewarding projects in her journalism career.
When Karla is not working, advocating or traveling the world, she and her husband Gary are busy raising their two daughters.
When I was young, I wanted to be: Executive Editor of The New York Times. (I’m not kidding; I attribute that lofty ambition to my two older sisters).
Favorite story you ever worked on: Every story beyond our borders. I love capturing how Minnesotans are doing “good” in the world by dealing with the global refugee crisis (often through the Minnesota-based Alight, formerly the American Refugee Committee).
I now must also add my recent stories and half-hour special documenting my dad’s Alzheimer’s journey, “So Many Goodbyes.” The project was painful but worth it, if I can let even one person currently on this journey know they’re not alone.
Describe your perfect day: A lake day on Clear Lake in Forest Lake… with my beloved family, of course.
Favorite Book/Author: I love everything from both Ernest Hemingway and Margaret Atwood (and yes, I’m aware they don’t share feminist beliefs or overall philosophies). I also really love All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (I strongly recommend it, if you haven’t yet read this book… it’s beautifully written).
Who’s your favorite band? U2.
Who’s your favorite singer? Bono. And I’ll also add, favorite song: With Or Without You, of course by U2.
Your inspiration: My Dad, for always helping others… in his family, in his church and in his community.
Favorite subject in school: English and Political Science (Hence, the double major).
Family: Karla and her husband Gary have two daughters, Grace and Isabella, both of whom are strong little girls. They also have the most tolerant of cats, Hansie Olaf.
Email: khult@kare11.com
