Steve Hartman: The Power of a Kind Word

Stephen Robert Hartman is an American broadcast journalist. Hartman earned a degree in broadcast journalism at Bowling Green State University, graduating in 1985. A correspondent for CBS News since 1996, Hartman is best known for his weekly feature On the Road, in which he travels in search of extraordinary stories about ordinary Americans. His approach follows in the tradition of the late Charles Kuralt, whose original On the Road reports also celebrated the people and experiences that make up everyday life.

Background

From 1984 to 1987, he served as an intern and general assignment reporter for WTOL in Toledo, Ohio. From 1987 to 1991, he was a feature reporter for KSTP in Minneapolis and held the same post at WABC-TV in New York City from 1991–94. From 1994 to 1998, he served as a feature reporter for KCBS-TV in Los Angeles, and hosted a segment called "The Stevening News". Hartman was also a correspondent for two CBS News magazines, Coast to Coast (1996–97) and Public Eye with Bryant Gumbel (1997–98). In 1998, Hartman became a full-time CBS News correspondent; he served as 60 Minutes II essayist from 2002 until the show was canceled in September 2005.

Over the years, his distinctive approach to human-interest reporting has earned him four national Emmy Awards, an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award and 14 Edward R. Murrow Awards, including 12 citations for best writing. In 2026, he received the Robert D. and Billie Ray Pillar of Character Award in recognition of his contribution to promoting good character.

What distinguishes Hartman's reporting is his ability to find compelling stories in everyday life. Rather than focusing on celebrity or public recognition, he introduces viewers to people whose quiet acts of generosity, courage and compassion reveal the difference one person can make. From a child setting up a compliment stand to strangers going out of their way to help someone in need, his reports show how kindness often begins with an ordinary person deciding to do something good.

Kindness 101: Stories That Teach by Example

Through his Kindness 101 series, award-winning American journalist Steve Hartman shares real-life stories that show how small acts of kindness can make a big difference. With accompanying classroom resources, these inspiring films help young people understand the power of compassion.

In the film Affirmation, a 9-year-old boy opens a "compliment stand" to boost people's self-esteem, a young boy featured in Steve's Kindness 101 series, shows that a compliment can change someone's day. By opening his own compliment stand, he set out to boost people's self-esteem, offering something simple but often surprisingly powerful: a few kind words. The idea is that we don't need to be famous, wealthy or particularly influential to make a difference. Sometimes, simply noticing something good in another person and taking the time to say it aloud is enough to make them feel seen and appreciated.

In 2020, Hartman launched Kindness 101, working alongside his children, Meryl and Emmett, to explore goodness, kindness and compassion through real-life stories. The series, developed in partnership with CHARACTER COUNTS!, takes the human-interest reporting for which he is known and turns it into an opportunity for learning.

The compliment stand is a particularly effective example. It invites us to consider how words affect the people around us. A genuine compliment can build confidence, strengthen relationships and remind someone that they matter. It also raises an important question for young people: what small action could I take today to make somebody else feel good about themselves?

Because the stories feature real people and experiences, they give children something concrete to think about and discuss. Rather than simply telling young people to be kind, the series shows what kindness can look like in practice.

Bringing Kindness into the Classroom

The Kindness 101 educational library offers teachers a collection of free, video-based lessons for students from kindergarten through Grade 12. Each lesson uses a story as a starting point for exploring character, social-emotional learning and academic skills.

The resources include discussion questions, classroom activities, journal prompts and materials that can be shared with families. Teachers can use them to encourage students to reflect on empathy, friendship, fairness, gratitude and responsibility, and to consider how these qualities might shape their own decisions.

A film about a child offering compliments, for example, could lead to a classroom conversation about self-esteem, the difference between a sincere compliment and an unkind remark, and the ways students can help create a more welcoming environment. Children could even put the idea into practice by finding thoughtful, genuine ways to encourage others.

The library makes it easier for educators to turn an engaging story into a meaningful learning experience, with resources that can be adapted to different ages and classroom needs.

One Kind Word at a Time

At MY HERO, we celebrate people whose actions make the world a better place. Hartman's work reflects that same belief: there is something to learn from the goodness of others, and sharing their stories can inspire us to act.

The nine-year-old with his compliment stand offers a particularly accessible lesson. You don't need a grand plan to help someone. You can start with the person beside you, a thoughtful observation, a word of encouragement or the decision to make someone feel included.

Perhaps that is the real strength of Kindness 101. These films don't simply ask us to admire kindness when we see it. They encourage us to recognise opportunities for kindness in our own lives.

Explore the resources

Watch the Kindness 101 videos and discover free classroom resources and activities in the CHARACTER COUNTS! Kindness 101 educational library.