Serena Altschul Biography And Wiki

Serena Altschul, an American broadcast journalist, built her career through her work at MTV News and CBS. Born on October 13, 1970, in New York City, she grew up in a family with a rich heritage—her mother, Siri von Reis, is a half-Finnish, half-Swedish author and botanist, while her father, Arthur Altschul, comes from a German Jewish banking family. She attended Scripps College in Claremont, California, where she studied English literature but left before graduating. While still in college, she worked as an associate producer for The Last Party, a political documentary. She launched her journalism career at Channel One News, where she spent two years as an anchor and reporter before joining MTV in 1987. At MTV News, she began reporting in January 1996 and hosted popular programs such as MTV News: UNfiltered, Breaking It Down, and True Life. Expanding her career, she joined CNN from 2002 to 2003, where she produced and hosted a special on the resurgence of PCP.

Age And Birthday

Serena Altschul was born on October 13, 1970, making her 54 years old in 2025.

Height And Weight

Serena Altschul is about 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 meters) tall and weighs around 58 kilograms.

Education Background

Serena Altschul studied English literature at Scripps College in Claremont, California, but did not complete her degree. During her time in college, she worked as an associate producer on The Last Party, a political documentary.

Nationality And Ethnicity

Serena Altschul is an American citizen by birth, having been born and raised in New York City, USA. She comes from a diverse ethnic background, with her mother of Finnish and Swedish descent and her father of German Jewish heritage.

Milestones, Significant Contributions, And Notable Works

Milestones

• 1993: Produced The Last Party, a political documentary, while still in college.
• 1996: Joined MTV News and worked on shows like MTV News: UNfiltered, Breaking it Down, and True Life.
• 2002-2003: Hosted and produced a special on the return of PCP at CNN.
• 2003: Became a contributing correspondent for CBS News.
• 2013: Started appearing on CBS Sunday Morning.

Significant Contributions

• MTV News: Reported on hard news and pop culture, covering profiles of music icons and political figures.
• Documentary Series: Created, produced, and hosted Breaking it Down, an MTV series addressing issues like drug trade, homeless teens, and gang violence.
• True Life Series: Hosted two impactful episodes of MTV’s True Life on the murder of Matthew Shepard and heroin abuse among wealthy Dallas teens.

Notable Works

• Awards: Won the Edward R. Murrow Award for Sports Reporting in 2007.
• Film Appearances: Featured as herself in Light It Up, Queen of the Damned, and Josie and the Pussycats.
• Jay-Z’s Song: Played herself on Jay-Z’s 1999 track Dope Man.

Husband and Children

Serena Altschul has been in a long-term relationship with Cooper Cox, who serves as the Chief Creative Officer of OTHERWILD Ventures. The couple has been together since 2011. They share a daughter, Vivian Altschul Cox, who was born in February 2011.

Career

Serena Altschul started her journalism career at Channel One News, where she worked as an anchor and reporter for two years. She covered various stories aimed at young audiences, gaining experience in news reporting and broadcasting. Her work at Channel One News helped her establish a strong foundation in journalism before moving on to larger media platforms.

In 1996, Serena joined MTV News and became a prominent face on shows like MTV News: UNfiltered, Breaking it Down, and True Life. She created, produced, and hosted Breaking it Down, a documentary series that explored critical social issues such as drug trade consequences, homelessness among teenagers, and gang violence. As part of the True Life series, she hosted two significant editions—one focusing on the murder of Matthew Shepard and another on heroin abuse among wealthy Dallas teenagers.

From 2002 to 2003, Serena worked at CNN, where she hosted and produced a special about the return of PCP. In 2003, she transitioned to CBS News, where she was named a contributing correspondent. A decade later, in 2013, she became a regular on CBS Sunday Morning, continuing to report on a wide range of topics and human-interest stories.

Beyond journalism, Serena has made notable appearances in the entertainment industry. She received the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award for Sports Reporting in 2007. She also appeared as herself in films such as Light It Up, Queen of the Damned, and Josie and the Pussycats. Additionally, she played herself in Jay-Z’s 1999 song Dope Man, further showcasing her influence in pop culture.

Hobbies And Personal Challenges

Serena Altschul enjoys photography and often takes pictures during her travels and work. She also loves exploring new places and cultures, which fits well with her job as a journalist.

Throughout her career, she has faced challenges, including balancing her busy work life with personal time. Reporting on important and sensitive topics has also brought risks and pressure.

Salary and Net Worth

Serena Altschul, a contributing correspondent for CBS News, earns an estimated yearly salary between $41,500 and $100,000. Her net worth is approximately $1.3 million.

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