Jo Ling Kent is a prominent American journalist known for her expertise in business and technology reporting. She currently serves as the senior business and technology correspondent for CBS News, a position she took on in July 2023 after a distinguished career at NBC News, MSNBC, Fox Business Network, and CNN. Over the years, Kent has built a formidable reputation for insightful reporting on the intersection of technology, business, and global economic issues, with a special focus on developments in China and their worldwide impact.
Table of Contents
Who is Jo Ling Kent?
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Age | 41 years |
| Parents/ Family | David L. Kent and Shean Yen Janice Kent |
| Ethnicity | Mixed (American and Chinese) |
| Nationality | American |
| Husband | Scott Conroy |
| Children/ Daughters | Mira Ling and Delancey Mei |
| Net Worth | Approximately $2 million |
| Salary | Approximately $100,000 and $300,000 annually |
| Height | 5 feet 6 inches (168 cm) |
Chloe Troast Boyfriend, SNL, Husband, Age, Net Worth, Height, Wikipedia, Comprehensive Bio 2025
Pom Klementieff Height, Net Worth, Ethnicity, Husband, Parents, Age, Comprehensive Bio 2025
Nikki Lilly Conditions, Face, Book, Disease, Net Worth, Age, Eye Surgery, Comprehensive Bio 2025
Early Life and Education
Jo Ling Kent was born on May 11, 1984, in San Francisco, California, to Chinese-American parents, Shean Yen Janice Kent and David Kent. She identifies as an American with Asian heritage. Kent was raised in Minnetonka, Minnesota, and is fluent in Mandarin, reflecting her cultural background.
Her mother’s Taiwanese heritage is part of her Asian roots, while her father is from East Texas, representing her American side. She was raised in Minnetonka, Minnesota, where she attended Hopkins High School. Showing an early interest in international affairs and global politics, Kent pursued an undergraduate degree at Rice University.
She then advanced her education with two master’s degrees in international affairs from prestigious institutions: the London School of Economics and Peking University. As a U.S. Fulbright Scholar, she specialized in women’s access to legal aid in China, demonstrating her deep commitment to global human rights issues. Kent is fluent in Mandarin, a skill that has greatly enhanced her reporting, especially on China-related stories.
Career Beginnings in China
Kent’s journalism career began in Beijing, China, where she worked as a digital reporter for ABC News’ Beijing bureau. She covered major news events such as the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Sichuan earthquake, and Taiwan elections. Later, she became an associate producer at CNN’s Beijing bureau, where she worked on significant reports about the Chinese economy, human rights, and environmental issues.
One notable moment in her early career occurred during the 2011 Chinese pro-democracy protests when she and a colleague were detained by police while reporting, an event that underscored her commitment to fearless journalism under challenging conditions.
Rise in U.S. Broadcast Journalism
In 2012, Kent returned to the United States and joined NBC’s Connecticut affiliate WVIT as a field reporter and blogger. During her tenure, she covered the 2012 presidential election as an embedded reporter and was part of the news team that won a Peabody Award for their coverage of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Kent then moved to Fox Business Network in 2013, where she specialized in technology reporting.
Here, she covered major tech companies, including Alibaba’s IPO and interviewed industry leaders such as Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma and Box CEO Aaron Levie. Kent also hosted a technology-focused podcast, further establishing her as a leading voice in tech journalism.
NBC News and MSNBC Tenure
From 2016 to 2023, Kent was a correspondent for NBC News and MSNBC, covering business and technology across multiple platforms. Her reporting included critical topics such as the impact of artificial intelligence, viral disinformation, social media privacy concerns, and the global supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Her investigative work notably addressed the working conditions in Amazon warehouses and Facebook’s role in the 2016 elections.
Kent’s dedication and excellence earned her significant accolades, including an Edward R. Murrow Award and three Emmy nominations. A memorable moment during this period was her on-air reporting during the George Floyd protests in Seattle in 2020 when she was hit by a Seattle Police Department flash-bang grenade but continued reporting without severe injury. In 2021, during her second pregnancy, Kent publicly received a COVID-19 vaccine shot on air to raise awareness about vaccine safety during pregnancy, reflecting her commitment to responsible and public health-oriented journalism.
Move to CBS News
In July 2023, Jo Ling Kent joined CBS News as the senior business and technology correspondent. Her reporting is featured across all CBS News platforms, addressing a broad spectrum of topics from personal finance and consumer trends to international economics involving the Federal Reserve and the World Bank. Kent brings her extensive experience covering China’s economic emergence and U.S. tech innovations to her role, further enriching CBS News’ business and technology coverage.
Husband, Personal Life and Advocacy
Jo Ling Kent is married to Scott Conroy, an author and reporter for HuffPost. They have been married since August 22, 2015, in a grand ceremony held at the Mountain View Grand Resort in Whitefield, New Hampshire. The couple has two daughters.
Their first daughter, Mira Ling, was born in 2018. Their second daughter, Delancey Mei, was born in April 2021. They announced expecting a third child with the baby expected in fall 2024. She shares aspects of her family life publicly, advocating for parental leave and the importance of work-family balance.
For example, she voiced her support for paid parental leave policies in the U.S., emphasizing that every parent should have the opportunity to care for their family. Ling Kent and her family have lived in New York City, as their first home together was on the Lower East Side of NYC, which inspired their daughter’s name, Delancey.
Kent is also an active member of the Asian American Journalists Association and a former term member of the Council on Foreign Relations. She serves on the boards of various organizations, including Libraries Without Borders U.S. and the advisory board of the Very Asian Foundation. These roles reflect her dedication to fostering diversity, education, and access to information.
Jo Ling Kent’s career is characterized by fearless reporting, in-depth knowledge of business and technology, and a commitment to public service journalism. Her ability to explain complex technological and economic issues clearly and accessibly has made her a trusted voice in American media.
Net Worth and Salary
Jo Ling Kent, a seasoned journalist and correspondent for CBS News as of 2025, has an estimated net worth around $2 million. She has earned this primarily through her 15-year career covering business, technology, and global economics for major networks including CBS, NBC, Fox Business, and CNN.
While precise figures aren’t publicly available, senior correspondents at CBS News earn between $100,000 and $300,000 annually depending on experience and role. Given Kent’s senior correspondent status and extensive expertise in business and technology coverage, her 2025 salary is likely in the mid to upper part of this range, reflecting her expertise and significant role at CBS.
is Jo Ling Kent married?
Jo Ling Kent is married to Scott Conroy. Scott Conroy is an author and reporter, with a significant background in political journalism and documentary production.
why did Jo Ling Kent leave nbc?
Ling Kent left NBC News in 2023 after spending six years as the business and technology correspondent for NBC News and MSNBC. She publicly announced her departure from NBC on air in the fall of 2022. The primary reason for her departure was to take on a new role at CBS News, where she joined in July 2023 as the senior business and technology correspondent based in Los Angeles.
how old is Jo Ling Kent?
41 years
What nationality is Jo Ling Kent?
Jo Ling Kent is American by nationality. She was born in San Francisco, California, to a Chinese-American family—her mother is of Chinese descent and her father is American.
Does Jo Kent have children?
Yes, Jo Ling Kent has children. She and her husband Scott Conroy have two daughters named Mira Ling and Delancey Mei.