Getting to know....TJ Holmes

All photos are from the Black in America HBCU and have been provided courtesy of CNN and Jeremy Freeman/CNN



1. What was your big break?
Not sure if I’ve had a “big break.” I’ve had several opportunities and blessings throughout my life and career. I try to seize and appreciate them all.

2. Who was your mentor and/or role model?
One of my college professors was always the one I turned to in my college days and early in my career. There was also a news director in Little Rock that tried to hire me right out of college. I never got to work for him, but he gave me guidance and great words of wisdom for several of those beginning years of my career. As far as role models go … I’ve always loved watching Bryant Gumbel. He’s a master. There are several I’ve watched over the years to study: Byron Pitts of CBS, John Roberts of CNN, Tim Russert of NBC, John King of CNN. Russert is probably the best interviewer in the business.

3. What profession, other than your own, would you like to attempt? What one would you dislike attempting?
I would love to be a college basketball coach. I’m a huge basketball fan. I’ve played basketball all my life.
I wouldn’t want to try any profession that would not allow me the opportunity to interact with my co-workers or the public in general.



4. What's on your iPod? What's in your Netflix queue? What was the last book you read (or the one that you're currently reading)?
I can’t function without my Ipod. I listen to a lot of rap. A lot. Kanye West, Talib Kweli, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, Nas … they’re all in heavy rotation.
I have been trying for a year to finish reading Shia Revival by Vali Nasr. It’s often hard to find time to read books. I read a lot of news … papers, magazines, wires, websites.

5. Please tell us a little about the off camera TJ. Your family, hobbies, favorite authors, favorite episodic television, things in your life that you are the most proud of, etc.
You won’t catch me in a suit on my days off. I am a jeans and T-shirt guy. During football and basketball season, you might have a tough time getting me out of the house. I’m a huge college basketball and football fan, and I’m glued to the TV during the seasons. I don’t really have any TV shows that I watch. That has a lot to do with my schedule. I used to watch the Sopranos and ‘24’. Now, my appointment viewing: “60 Minutes” and “PTI.” (on ESPN)
I love my home. And, I love being at home. But, I don’t spend as much time there as I would like. My schedule really is nuts.

6. What are the essentials when traveling to cover a story?
A blackberry and a cell phone.


7. When did you decide that you wanted to be a journalist? What attracted you to this professional? If journalism wasn't your initial career goal, what was?
I took a mass communications class my freshman year of college and fell in love with the live element of broadcasting, and I haven’t looked back since. I had other tangibles that helped. I was always a pretty good writer, and I do have a natural curiosity.

8. What's your favorite must have gadget?
That has to be the Ipod.

9. What do you find to be the most challenging aspect of interviewing someone for a story?
Sometimes the toughest part can be researching the subject prior to the interview. That often takes time. You want to be able to respond to your interviewee with facts if they try to pull a fast one on you. So, you really need to be well versed on your topic.


10. Live television can be unpredictable- can you tell us about an on air moment that didn't go quite as planned or went awry?
Those moments happen all the time. Sometimes they’re minor. Sometimes they’re major. I’ve been busted eating a Twizzler on live television. I have had to tell someone, while I was on live, to get out of my camera shot during a liveshot. I have had a guy give the middle finger behind me while I was live on a story.



11. What event has had the most impact on your life (either professionally or personally) and why?
That’s a tough question. I am happier in my life right now than I’ve probably ever been. So, everything that has happened to me, good or bad, has gotten me to this point. Without any one of those moments, I might not be where I am. So, everything that has happened to me has been an experience that I’ve learned from.

12. What's been your most difficult assignment as a journalist to date?
I was away from home for a month to cover the Olympics. While that was a great assignment, it was tough to be away from home for that long. I have a great respect for journalists who spend so much time away.
One of the toughest stories I’ve ever done was about a young man in California who suffered a severe head injury while serving in Iraq. I covered part of his rehab. It was so tough to see this young man who had been a vibrant, athletic, good-looking guy before the injury. He was unrecognizable because of his wounds. He wasn’t able to perform the simplest tasks … writing his name, doing simple math, picking up the lightest weights. He couldn’t even remember the name of his unit or where he was based. This was the story that really showed me the reality of war like no other story. Tough to do that story with a dry eye.



13. If you could pick one story from history to cover, what would be your dream story be?
Hard to pick just one story from history I would like to cover, so here are a few: 1936 Olympics when Jesse Owens debunked Adolf Hitler’s theory of Aryan superiority. Also, the 1966 NCAA basketball championship when Texas Western started 5 Black players against Kentucky’s all-white squad. I am a huge sports fan, and both those events were sporting events that, of course, had great news value and changed history.

14. What is your guilty pleasure?
Candy. Twizzlers, Hot Tamales, Mike and Ike.


15. Where is your favorite place in the entire world?
I haven’t done a lot of world travel. But I spent a month in Greece in 2004. Beautiful place. I love the Caribbean. And, I’ll go to Mexico with anyone at anytime. Love it there.



16. If you could recommend one book as a must read what would it be?
I don’t have a must read book. Can I recommend something else that I think is a must read: “The Drum Major Instinct” sermon by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

17. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
One of my favorite pieces of advice that I’ve ever received was “people let life pass them by while they’re making grand plans for it.” I absolutely believe that and try to live by it. I know that people have to plan life out to some extent, but we all know people who aren’t happy where they are. They think they’ll be happy once they get to a certain job … or are making a certain salary … or when they get married … or when they get a bigger house … or whatever. All we have is today. Right now. I’m blessed to be where I am, so I want to enjoy the moment.
We want to thank TJ for taking the time to share a bit of himself with us.

If you have anyone you'd like to request for an interview or suggestions for questions we'd love to hear from you. ~ Phebe

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