Fans Are Saying NBC Finally Found What ‘Dateline’ Was Missing And Her Name Is Blayne Alexander

Alexander views her new role on “Dateline” as an “extension” of her previous work as a general assignment reporter — both contain the “bones of journalism,” she said — but she appreciates having the time now to really dig into a story.

“To be able to just dive in, sit down, talk to families for two or three hours, has been something that I’ve never had before,” she said.

Indeed, Alexander said the most rewarding aspect of being a “Dateline” correspondent is the connections she makes with victims’ families. After each interview, she said, she leans forward and asks how they feel. Their responses range anywhere from “relieved” to “grateful,” she said.

“One person told me that she felt like she just finished a very good therapy session,” Alexander said. “‘I haven’t talked about this in years, that just being able to talk about this was just so therapeutic,’” she said the woman told her.

“TV cameras, lights and the whole set aside, they’re glad that they just had someone who sat and they were able to pour out their heart about someone who meant so much to them,” she added.

Moving forward, Alexander — who like the other correspondents pitches stories to producers — said she is interested in covering stories about Black victims. “Especially Black women who are victims of domestic violence,” she said. 

“I know that’s something that across the board is important to highlight,” she said.

She also said she is really interested in covering cold cases. 

“I’m fascinated by stories that take a long time to solve, and then there’s some sort of breakthrough” — like new technology, a confession, or “some new detective who comes in and says, ‘You know what, let me take a new look at this.’ And then cracks [the case] somehow.”

When Mankiewicz told her that viewers described her as the “missing piece” to “Dateline,” Alexander said it gave her chills.

“The fact that ‘Dateline’ is so beloved by so many people because of the folks who are telling the stories … to have some of our loyal viewers already embrace me as part of this family … just means a lot,” Alexander said. “It does.”