Getting to Know.....John King

Photo credit: ©2009 Cable News Network. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved.

1. Now that the 2008 Presidential campaign has finally come to an end, looking back…What was the oddest thing about this campaign? What impressed you the most about it? What disgusted or frustrated you the most? How do you think this election cycle will change or impact future presidential races?

King: The oddest thing about the 2008 campaign: To me, the intensity gap between Democrats and Republicans. It was obvious, mind you, so some might not find it “odd.” But it was striking to me because it was everywhere.

Most impressed me? Then Senator Obama’s ability to quickly recover from his few mistakes. Most politicians so new to the national stage have a harder time at this; it was proof not only of his considerable political instincts but the skills of his team.

Disgusted or frustrated? Can’t say I was disgusted or frustrated. This was my sixth so I have developed a thick skin to the silly and wacky things. I was both disgusted and frustrated with/at myself for gaining 10 pounds when I should know better!

Change future cycles? Even now there are people trying to find the next level after the revolutionary ways the Obama campaign used technology to raise money and to organize voters. And his success in traditional “red states” will make those more competitive – and therefore more involved – in the next cycle. The “Obama map” is a huge challenge for Republicans in presidential politics if they cannot significantly change it, so it will be fun and interesting to watch, beginning with the 2010 midterms.

2. You’ve said on occasion that viewers should kick the tires … have you had any experiences where you’ve gotten a new perspective on one of your reports?

King: Kick the tires? Sure, all the time. People call or email all the time with constructive criticism or maybe to say well I liked this story but you missed this angle, or you would be smart to follow up by looking at xxxxxxxxx. I like to keep in touch with people, and hearing from them six months or a year after I have included them in a piece is very helpful to me in trying to keep a feel on how certain issues are playing. One example: John Dyer is a remarkable Ohio man who lost his son in Iraq in 2003. In the 2004 election cycle he supported the war; by 2008 he had come to see it as a mistake.

3. What's been your most difficult assignment as a journalist to date?

King: The Southeast Asian tsunami. The devastation of the parents who had lost young children was numbing. The first Gulf War was difficult in a very different way; got a little too close to the action on a couple of occasions and was lucky.

4. What profession, other than your own, would you like to attempt? What one would you dislike attempting?

King: I would love to work for an organization that helps. Pretty open ended, I know. I started working young because I needed to work to pay for school and then to pay off loans. In my travels with work you come to appreciate those who give up so much to help bring clean water or food or health care or education to remote and impoverished places. Or – and this is very very very different – manage the Red Sox for a week or three! Dislike? I’m pretty curious so I don’t have a visceral dislike of any profession.

5. What's your favorite must have gadget?

King: My simple air card for my laptop is a must so I can work while traveling. I’m slowly learning what an I-phone can do. And I love my new Mac air – I can fit it in a tiny briefcase.

6. Please tell us a little about the off camera John King. Your family, hobbies, favorite authors, favorite episodic television, things in your life that you are the most proud of, etc.

King: My amazing wife you know from TV. What you might not know is how funny she is, and how grounded in family and friends she is. Noah and Hannah are my treasures. Smart, spunky and challenging in the best of ways. Keep me young. I love to be outdoors; kayaking, snowboarding, went rappelling for the first time in 20 years this past June – in the Costa Rica rainforest! I like history and Shakespeare. TV favorites rather eclectic; Dana got me watching Brothers and Sisters; I make her watch some Law and Order. My dad was a huge Honeymooners/Jackie Gleason fan and I loved to watch with him. And Monty Python was on Wednesday nights growing up on the public TV station in Boston. Must see TV. (Cheers was a favorite, too; funny and home). I am most proud of my children, and my memories of my parents.

7 What do you find to be the most challenging aspect of interviewing someone for a story?

King: The most challenging part is to make it relevant to the viewer. A lot of what I do is Washington related and that, while important, often means a lot of process talk. I need to get better at turning just about every conversation to what it means for someone outside of DC.

8 Live television can be unpredictable- can you tell us about an on air moment that didn't go quite as planned or went awry?

King: Live television is humbling and at times humiliating. Of late, my “magic map” has decided to go off the reservation a few times on me on live TV. You have to learn to take the lumps and move on.

9 What were you like growing up? What was your favorite toy as a child? Do you have any brothers? Sisters? (Older or younger?) Did you play sports or a musical instrument?

King: I am one of seven children; five boys and two girls. (which means my sisters are as tough as they come). I am third in line (one older brother and one older sister). I don’t remember a “favorite toy” per se. If I had to pick one it would be an electric race track we had; my older brother and I would race so fast the cars would always fly off the track at the corners. I have zero musical talent; I played baseball and football but not very well!

10 What event has had the most impact on your life (either professionally or personally) and why?

King: The early deaths of my parents. My dad was 55 and my mom 59. They had very little but gave us everything and most of all a good work ethic and I hope a sense of humor and fairness. I judge myself by whether I can come close to meeting their example. I never will.

11. If you could pick one story from history to cover, what would be your dream story be?

King: Impossible to answer. Because we so often don’t get to pick the stories we get to cover, and because my interests are so varied. The Wright brothers would have been a pretty cool assignment. Friends and colleagues who covered the civil rights movement have stories that make me very envious of their glimpse at history. I had a bit role at the Mandela Inauguration and was in awe watching. Pick a page in the Bible, or a World War Two history …

12. What is your guilty pleasure?

King: My guilty pleasure?!?!?!? I have an affinity for beer (hops are a gift from the gods!) and big red wines.

Photo credit:E. M. Pio Roda / CNN ©2009 Cable News Network. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved.

13. A recent CNN promo for State of the Union stated, “He made magic with a map.” What happens to the magic wall now that the election is over?

King: The Magic Map has a new home on my new show. It will be a big part in what we try to do in connecting the big policy debates in Washington with the “real world.”

14. What are your goals for State of the Union? What are the challenges of doing a four hour program?

King: Four hours takes a lot of energy, but I’m fine in that regard. Another challenge is to mix it up – to have diversity in the issues we cover and the guests we invite in as part of our Sunday conversation. Which leads me to the overriding goal – to have a smart, fun, informative conversation that helps people understand the big debates in Washington, but that also reminds Washington of what people out in the real world think. Traveling every week is a big part of what we are doing, and the hope is those travels keep us in touch with outside the beltway as we hope to be with policy players inside the beltway.

All Things CNN would like to thank John King for answering our questions. He is CNN's chief national correspondent and the anchor of the new Sunday morning program State of the Union with John King.

State of the Union with John King airs on Sundays at 9AM ET.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Getting to Know.....Veronica De La Cruz

1. What was your big break?
De La Cruz: For me, it was landing at CNN.com from a TV station in Yuma, Arizona. I have had so many amazing opportunities since I first walked through the doors of CNN Center in Atlanta -- and now the TimeWarner building in New York -- my entire life has changed.
Who was your mentor or role model?
I’ve had a few – more than my fair share. I think it would be quite unfair to single anyone out. Let's just say if you've made a difference in my life, have sat with me through hours of tape, corrected my scripts with your red pen, graciously reached into the back of your closet to make sure I had at least one good suit, and listened to me talk about work endlessly over brunch -- you definitely know who you are.

2. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
De La Cruz: One of my best friends in Los Angeles recently got into roller derby. I used to think she was crazy until I saw it for myself. Given my background as a figure skater, I secretly think I could be very good at it. Plus, I never got to have a skater name like "Mila Minute". How cool would that be?

3. What’s on your iPod?
De La Cruz: My favorite song this past summer was “American Boy” by Estelle. I put it on when I’m feeling nostalgic for the season, especially since it's been raining a lot here in NYC. I’ve also been listening to a lot of Sia. I’m a big lover of all types of music. World music really feeds my longing for travel and other cultures. I’m also a big fan of Cesaria Evora and Bebel Gilberto.
What are you reading?
Besides dozens of blogs and my Twitter feed, I’ve been making my way through Barbara Walters’ memoir – “Audition” and Fareed Zakaria's “The Post American World.” I normally send everything and anything to my BlackBerry and read it that way.

4. Last movie you saw?
De La Cruz: Oliver Stone's “W.” I found the film’s final scene -- a dream sequence where President Bush ends up in a stadium losing sight of the ball – to be particularly symbolic and disturbing.
Off-camera Veronica: family, hobbies, favorite authors, episodic TV?
My father is a French-German Jew whose family escaped Nazi Germany and changed their last name from Schertz to De La Cruz. My mother is a Filipina-Chinese immigrant who was the 4th of 18 kids. I have a little brother who lives in Las Vegas and I grew up in California, spending more than a decade of my life as a competitive figure skater. My skating career ended after I was injured. I don't get to read enough for pleasure; instead I consume massive amounts of information through newspapers, magazines and the Internet. I’m addicted to Twitter and am always reading my Twitter feed. I grew up reading Thomas Friedman every Sunday in The New York Times. I was constantly entertained by post-modern authors such as Brett Easton Ellis and Jay McInerney. I don't have time to watch episodic TV, though I used to Tivo “24.” Now the only thing I Tivo is Zakaria's CNN program “GPS,” though I try to catch it when it airs on Sundays. I must admit “Family Guy” is a guilty pleasure.

5. When did you decide that you wanted to be a journalist? What attracted you to this profession? If journalism wasn't your initial career goal, what was?
De La Cruz: When I was in college, writing and music were my passions. So I figured I’d become a music journalist. While I was in school, I came across the opportunity to work for a new company called DEN.net that was launching Web-based alternative programming for Gen XY. Instead of writing for a music publication, I ended up on camera, hosting and producing a music show. It was an amazing experience that allowed me to travel around the world. It ended up launching my broadcasting career. Shortly after, I took my first news job in Yuma, Arizona.
What's your favorite must have gadget?
I would say my BlackBerry and my Flip video camera. I never leave home without them.

6. You’ve come a long way from Yuma, Arizona. Is there anything you miss about living in the Southwest?
De La Cruz: The big open skies. When I lived there I used to get away from all of life’s stresses by going to the park and lying in the grass. I loved staring up at the big open sky and the clouds. It was also a bonus that I could go swimming in December when my friends were living in places where snow was falling. I would always call them to say it was 84 and sunny.

7. What about you would surprise viewers most?
De La Cruz: Probably my ethnic background. I think it’s confusing for many people. Some think I am Asian. Some think I am Hispanic. I think people would be very surprised to find out that -- much like Barack Obama describes himself – I’m a mutt. I’m a Filipino-Chinese French-German-Jewish-American. I am curious to see how the Obama White House might change people’s perspectives on race.

8.Live television can be unpredictable- can you tell us about an on air moment that didn't go quite as planned or went awry?
De La Cruz: There was a funny moment on “CNN Saturday/Sunday Morning” with T.J. Holmes and Betty Nguyen when my chair got stuck and we couldn’t get it to go down. We wrestled with it all during the break and realized we were coming back in 10 seconds, there was no way we were going to be able to lower it so we were all about the same height. We did my segment with me towering over the two of them, at least six inches taller. It was totally and completely awkward, but we had a good laugh about it.

9. If you could pick one story from history to cover, what would your dream story be?
De La Cruz: I’d pick an entire decade: the 60’s, including the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights movement, MLK Jr., Cesar Chavez, Neil Armstrong, JFK’s assassination, and especially Woodstock. There were so many important events that took place during that short decade, it would be difficult to choose just one.

10. What is your guilty pleasure?
De La Cruz: I’m embarrassed to say that I love romantic comedies and I don’t discriminate. I like them all, even the really bad ones. It probably has something to do with the fact that I’m a self-described hopeless romantic and an eternal optimist. I think I also mentioned that I watch “Family Guy.” I was Asian Reporter Tricia Takanawa for Halloween.

ATC would like to say thank you to Veronica for taking time out of her busy schedule to answer our questions. Veronica is a CNN correspondent for Newsroom which airs weekdays from 9 AM until 3 PM (Eastern).

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Getting to Know.....Betty Nguyen

1. 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?
Nguyen: I initially planned on becoming an attorney but, after working at a law office in high school, I realized it just wasn’t for me. What I did enjoy – were my classes in debate and drama – and we all know TV news has a lot of both. I also had a passion for writing. So once the idea of becoming a journalist crossed my mind, there was no turning back. I was sold.

2. What was your big break (or are you still waiting for it)?

Nguyen: So far, CNN has been my big break. I didn’t even apply at the network. Here’s how it happened: I was leaving a job fair at a journalism convention in San Diego when I passed by the CNN booth. The Talent Director asked if I had a resume tape and luckily I had one left. I handed it to him and headed out the door, not thinking anything would come of it. A few months later, he called while I was working for the CBS affiliate in Dallas and asked if I wanted to audition for CNN. That was an easy answer.

3. Who was your mentor?
Nguyen: There have been numerous people throughout my career who’ve given me guidance like college professors, newsroom managers, and other journalists. I’ve never been shy about asking for advice.

Vino Wong/AAJA Atlanta



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)?
Nguyen: Estelle, Mary J, Kanye…Dave Matthews, Robin Thicke, John Legend. It varies but the majority is R&B and rap. I don’t get Netflix, VOD, or anything of that. Honestly, I rarely have time for a movie. However, I did finish reading The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran and I’ve started on Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth.


5. Please tell us a little about the off camera Betty. Your family, hobbies, favorite authors, favorite episodic television, things in your life that you are the most proud of, etc.
Nguyen: When I’m not working, I’m usually on a plane somewhere. I love to travel. Whether it’s Phuket, Cabo, Montego Bay or Nha Trang – I haven’t met a beach I didn’t like. I also try to spend time with my family in Texas. My little sister is still in high school so I make a point to get home as often as I can. There’s not much time for TV shows. I’ll catch a few episodes of Lost or Brothers & Sisters every now and then. I used to make a point to watch 24 but Jack Bauer seems to be MIA. These days I dedicate a lot of my free time to Help the Hungry, a non-profit my family and I founded to assist poverty-striken families. Right now, we’re gearing up for a humanitarian aid trip to Vietnam later this summer.

6. You have made it a life mission to give back to your homeland. Can you tell us a bit about the charity work you support?
Nguyen: When my Mother and I returned to Vietnam for the first time since fleeing the war, the poverty, hunger and despair was still very evident. I couldn’t help but think that could be me. In the rural areas of Vietnam, families have little more than grass huts with dirt floors and hardly enough food to survive. Combine that with the annual monsoons and the destruction is both devastating and deadly. Something had to be done. Help the Hungry is the result of a simple passion to assist those in need by providing food, clothing, medicine and other basic essentials. But here’s the beauty of it – the people we help are the ones who give a much greater gift to our volunteers and donors. We’re able to see, first hand, the smiles of a hungry child, tears of joy from worried parents, and relief in the eyes of the elderly. Help the Hungry’s mission is more than just delivering aid, it’s about experiencing life in a meaningful way. If you’d like more information, please go to http://www.help-the-hungry.org/.

7. What's your favorite must have gadget?
Nguyen: My blackberry. I feel lost without it. There has to be some kind of treatment for this problem.

Vino Wong/AAJA Atlanta



8. Live television can be unpredictable- can you tell us about an on air moment that didn't go quite as planned or went awry?
Nguyen: Can be unpredictable? It’s often unpredictable. That’s what makes it both fun and frustrating. One of the more memorable moments happened during breaking news. I was about to do an interview with a foreign official. With just seconds to spare, I was still waiting to hear how to say this person’s last name. It was spelled Dikshit. Now that’s one you don’t want to mispronounce.


9. What's been your most difficult assignment as a journalist to date?

Nguyen: I remember holding a small child who got lost during Hurricane Katrina. Every time a young woman walked by, she held out her arms and cried “Momma”. I later learned her mother was just 13 years old. So essentially, you had a lost child looking for a lost child. I also don’t think I’ll ever forget my assignment in Sierra Leone, Africa – the world’s poorest country. I met people who had both arms hacked off by rebels during a decade of civil war. They were so eager to have a voice in their country’s Presidential election that one man showed me how he planned on voting with his toes.

10. If you could pick one story from history to cover, what would be your dream story be?Nguyen: Looking back through history, there are many stories that have had a profound effect on our lives. But personally, I would not be where I am today had my family not fled to the U.S. as Saigon was falling to communism. Too young to remember any of it, I would love to document my mother’s harrowing journey. Like thousands of others, she faced heart-wrenching decisions and harsh conditions in order to give her family a shot at freedom and opportunity in a place called America.

11. What is your guilty pleasure?
Nguyen: I don’t splurge on much but I’m a sucker for designer handbags.

12. Where is your favorite place in the entire world to vacation?

Nguyen: I couldn’t possibly pick just one. There’s just so much out there to see that I try not to vacation in the same place twice. Some of my favorite cities include:
Monaco, France
Cape Town, South Africa
Venice, Italy
Barcelona, Spain
Phuket, Thailand
Saigon, Vietnam





Thank you so much to Betty for taking the time to answer our questions. It's really a great treat for our favorite CNN personalities to give us a peek behind the scenes.

If you have any requests or suggestions for future q & a's please email us at allthingscnn@gmail.com. ~Phebe

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Getting To Know.....Ali Velshi

1. When is your book, GET RICH, SLEEP WELL: Making Money in Good Times & In Bad, going to be released?
Velshi: I’m hoping to have it released this fall. Maybe toward Christmas. I won’t sleep well until its done. But since I hardly sleep, anyway…

2. From the title, it sounds like the book is recession proof. How is this book going to help someone in their 20s compared to someone in their 50s?
Velshi: Recession-proof investing - that’s the idea behind the book – that people can invest their money without worrying about it. There’s no way to eliminate risk in investments, but there is a way to take on an amount of risk that is suited to your age and personality. That’s what I’m aiming to help people with.

3. With all the work that you do for CNN- Your $$$$, American Morning, your podcast.... when did you find the time to write a book?
Velshi: I don’t, really. There are children graduating from kindergarten who weren’t born when I first started writing it.

4. Where do you get your great sense of style? Do you have a favorite designer?
Velshi: I have a definite sense of what I like – I’m not sure it’s a style with mass appeal (can you imagine what New York City would look like with all those stripes?). So I tend to start with shirts – I have them made by a tailor. Then I pick ties – I have more ties by Zegna than by anyone else. Suits, I choose last (also from the same tailor.). Think of all the money I save not having to go to a hairdresser.

5. 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)?
Velshi: I’m glad you raised this issue. I’m thinking of giving up Netflix. I’m on the 2-movie-a-month plan, and I never actually watch two movies in a month. Some titles from my queue (“A Crude Awakening: The Oil Crash”, “Wall Street”, “Million Dollar Baby”) Sensing a theme here?

6. Please tell us a little about the off camera Ali. Your family, hobbies, favorite authors, favorite episodic television, things in your life that you are the most proud of, etc.
Velshi: My parents live in Toronto, where I grew up. When I have some free time, I ride a motorcycle (1400cc cruiser), enjoying traveling to out-of-the way, exotic places. I watch a lot of dramatic series on TV (Rome, Tudors, John Adams), plus “House” and all the “CSI” versions.

7. What are the essentials when traveling to cover a story?
Velshi: I have one bag with every electronic gadget one could ever need. And that bag will fit under the seat of a commuter airplane. In it: my slow-as-molasses company-issued laptop, Ipod, an iGo power thingy with every adapter conceivable to charge my stuff, an inflatable airplane pillow (and eyemask, but don’t tell anyone), basic toiletries, various forms of toothpaste, mouthwash, and scientifically enhanced breath fresheners (I’m a little obsessed), Ambien (I’m the world’s WORST sleeper), some kind of crunch power cereal in a pouch and this little packet of artificially sweetened powder that you can empty into a water bottle (like, at a hotel) so you can get some nourishment if a donut store isn’t nearby. Oh, and a reporter notebook and a cross pen.

8. 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?
Velshi: I studied religion. And I decided very late in my university career that I wanted to be a geological engineer. Clearly there was nothing behind Doors 1 OR 2.

9. What's your favorite must have gadget?
Velshi: Blackberry. And the next 4 on the list are blackberry. Nothing else even comes close. I can go WEEKS without touching my iPod. Can go minutes without my Blackberry.

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?
Velshi: Years ago I was reporting on record low mortgage rates. I was in Chicago, right in front of the Chicago River by the Tribune Building. I was standing on two camera cases while delivering my report. I was gesticulating and suddenly the top box just slipped out from under me and I literally dropped right out of the shot while live on TV. I’m told that the director was laughing so hard he didn’t actually switch the shot back to the anchor, so when you watch the video, you can actually see me re-appearing in the frame while the anchors ask if I am okay. When I stood up again, I was about a foot shorter.

11. What is your guilty pleasure?
Velshi: Food. I eat like every day is the last day eating is allowed. Its not a good thing when you like to wear vests. Getting dressed these days is like stuffing a sausage.

And to the hairless profit of doom we offer our thanks, gratitute and this little tribute.

Until next week. ~ Phebe

If you want to read more of our 'Getting to Know' posts just click the link on the left sidebar. There are interviews with TJ Holmes, Kyra Phillips and Rick Sanchez. Also included is a question & answer with Phil Kent from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

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

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Getting to know....Phil Kent

I know many of you are saying huh? Who is Phil Kent. Phil Kent is the chairman and chief executive officer of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. Named to his post in February 2003, his responsibilities include corporate oversight of the TBS, Inc. domestic and international entertainment, animation and news networks and businesses, including TBS, TNT, Turner Classic Movies and Court TV; Cartoon Network, CNN Worldwide, which includes CNN/U.S., CNN Headline News, CNN International and CNN.com. Kent has overall responsibility for all news and entertainment advertising and distribution, both domestically and internationally, as well as for all corporate administrative functions and Turner Sports. *

Not long ago, actually it was March 19, 2008, Phil Kent sat down with Atlanta Journal-Constitution writer Matt Kempner for a question and answer. We're going to reprint portions of the article, since it fits so well with our 'Getting to Know You' series. If you'd like to read the entire article just follow the link.

Q: Do you get a hard time from friends and family about what you put on TV?
A: The interesting thing about TV is everybody thinks they are an expert, and everybody is an expert because everybody consumes a lot. My father, who is retired from the fashion industry, will often call me up and ask me who is overseeing the wardrobe for some of our anchors.

Q: How much of television watching is a part of your life outside of work?
A: It's almost like wallpaper in my office. It's playing all day, but I'm rarely focused on it. But I watch probably two hours in the evening. I usually watch an hour of CNN and one or two hours of something else.

Q: You've talked about how crucial it is to pick good people. Was there a time when you went badly wrong on a choice?
A: We hired a really good person for a pretty senior job, and I just had a gut feeling that they weren't quite ready for that job, but I didn't stop it. There's a tired expression, which is: "Pick great people." That's only half the sentence. You have to pick great people and put them in the right job. It could be a stretch for them, but it needs to be a job that you think they have a pretty good chance of being able to do well.

Q: You used to be a Hollywood talent agent representing writers and producers. Tell me about the talents that takes.
A: Patience, honesty, consistency and good follow-through. Patience in being able to stay on the phone with people with a wide variety of mood swings ...

Q: What about being a Hollywood agent is like being a CEO?
A: Understanding how to motivate people. You learn how to read people and understand what makes them tick.

Q: What's the toughest decision you've had to make as CEO at Turner Broadcasting?
A: It's a rite of passage of most senior executives that at some point they have to ease out somebody who is also a friend.

Q: Have you come up with a good way of firing a friend?
A: There's nothing more humane than honesty. You can deliver bad news with empathy, sympathy and encouragement.

Q: How has that gone?
A: Some better than others. There are people I'm still friends with to this day. And some people were very hurt. ... But I always felt I acted in the best interests of Turner. Those are among the toughest decisions. It's much harder than canceling a show.

Q: What's the one thing you'd like to ask other CEOs?
A: It would be really interesting to swap stories about how in order to develop your most senior people you have to sometimes watch a minor train wreck. If you know a mistake is being made, you can't stop every mistake from being made because then people don't learn. Having that judgment to know what's a big enough impending train wreck to step in and say, "No, don't do that." As versus, "Is that really what you want to do? I think you ought to think about this."
The question I always ask when I'm doing job interviews is, "Tell me about the failures you've had professionally and what you've learned from them."

Q: What's the biggest mistake you've made?
A: The worst at the time was canceling the rain insurance at the Diana Ross concert in Central Park in 1982 or '83. ... My company was doing the radio simulcast. I think I was in my late 20s. I canceled to save the gigantic sum of $3,000. That night was one of the most historic black-cloud, rain-drenching electric storms. ... We had to restage the whole thing the next night. It cost my company a lot of money. They were pretty upset with me.

Q: Tell me about the state of the TV industry and where the industry is headed.
A: There's never been a time when TV had more opportunity and more built-in risk to its business model. There are so many new things that people do in their free time.

Q: What's the big risk?
A: The big risk is the audience is fragmenting. A big risk in the business model of television is now the currency of the business has changed. Where we used to get paid for how many people watch the program, now we get paid for how many people watch the commercials. Even though we are not responsible for making the commercials.

Q: When did that take place, and what impact will it have?
A: Last fall. Take CNN, for example. It becomes more important than ever in the daily execution of our presenting our networks to make sure that going into a commercial we really try to do our best to keep the audience glued. So teases become much more important.
On the entertainment side, you will see a lot of what we call hard openings, when you go right from the closing credits of one show right into the opening credits of another. If you have noticed on TBS recently, we don't waste a lot of time with the opening theme song of "Friends." There's a quick shot of the friends around the fountain, a couple of bars of music and right into the episode.

Q: What's your best guess on what the TV industry and Turner Broadcasting will be like in five or 10 years?
A: People are going to demand what they want to see, when they want to see it and how they want to see it. We are going to need to accommodate those demands without completely disrupting our business model. Or we may not even be successful in not disrupting our business model.

Q: This is the company that Ted Turner built. How are you and Ted Turner most different and most alike?
A: We are very different. I could not have done what Ted Turner did. Ted had the uncanny ability of being able to see around corners. He is a classic entrepreneur. I am, I think, a pretty accomplished professional manager. It's a completely different skill set.

Q: Could Ted Turner survive and thrive in this kind of industry now?
A: That's a good question for him.

If you'd like to see a video of Mr. Kent being honored by Broadcast and Cable News 17th Annual Hall of Fame just follow the link. It's interesting to hear how of many of the people and programs we watch on a daily basis. are because of Phil Kent.

*Information reprinted from Kent's online Time Warner bio.


That's it for me this week. I'd like to thank our Ratings Guru for the Phil Kent find. Don't forget to check out this weeks Ratings at a Glance. ~Phebe

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Getting to Know....Kyra Phillips

Our latest 'Getting to Know.....' is with anchor/field reporter Kyra Phillips. Most CNN viewers have been watching Kyra's reports from Iraq this month. Did you know this was Kyra's fourth trip to cover the war in Iraq? She's done an amazing job and here are a few examples of some of her recent reports.

We're very grateful that Kyra took sometime out of her busy schedule to give us a little behind the scenes look at her life. Thanks for the wonderful job you're doing Kyra and stay safe.

1. This is your fourth assignment in Iraq. What are your impressions on how the current "Surge" has changed your safety and/or security reporting in the country?

Safety hasn't changed at all....it is still dangerous to go anywhere. Deaths are down, but the danger factor remains the same. It amazes me how Iraqis have just become used to it and talk about the fact that they just do what they have to do with explosions going off behind them, but they keep on living. Their resilience is absolutely humbling.

2. What was your big career break?

Getting that first phone call about a real job offer--Lubbock, Texas! I remember asking my parents, "where the heck is Lubbock, Texas?" and my mom said, "I think Mac Davis wrote a song about happiness being Lubbock, Texas in my rear view mirror." Turns out the song was, "I THOUGHT" Lubbock, Texas was happiness in my rear view mirror!

3. Who was your mentor and/or role model?

In my personal life, my grandfather. He was a saint.
In my professional life, Art Buchwald and my investigative reporting professor Ed Guthman. I was blessed to have such amazing mentors.

4. What's on your iPod? What was the last book you read (or the one that you're currently reading)?

Wow...I have EVERYTHING on my iPod....I love music. You name it, I have it.
The last book I read was, "Eat, Pray, Love." I can completely relate to it.

5. What must haves do you take along when traveling to cover a story?

Meditation CDs so I can sleep.

6. 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 started a school newspaper in the 4th grade. My first interview was Dr. Seuss. Long story short, my classmate's dad tuned pianos and one of his clients was Ted Geisel. He was my favorite author as a kid so I thought he would make the perfect first interview for my paper! I went home with my classmate, went through her dad's rolodex and there was his number! Boy, was he irritated when I called him. However, he did give me about 10 minutes after I explained what I was doing. It may have been unethical with how I got his number, but I was honest with him when I got him on the phone.

7. If you could pick one story from history to cover, what would be your dream story be?

The crucifixion of Jesus Christ. How's that for "investigating the truth!"

8. What is your guilty pleasure?

Martinis.

9. Are you superstitious? Do you carry any lucky charms when traveling in war zones?

Yes! One of my best friends gives me her Koran necklace to wear every time I cover the war....she got it when she was 3 while living in Iran. She puts it on me before I leave and then I don't take it of until I am home and with her.


That's the second in our 'Getting to Know....' series. If you've got a suggestion for a subject or questions please email us. And a big thank you to Cyn for the clips. ~ Phebe


All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Getting To Know....Rick Sanchez

In the coming months we're going to give you a chance to get to know your favorite CNN personalities a little better. We start with Rick Sanchez, anchor of CNN Newsroom on Saturday and Sunday evenings. Rick also gives updates from the CNN en Español anchor desk on weekends with Claudia Palacios at 8:30pm.


1. What was your big break?

A WCCO/CBS scholarship to study Journalism at the University of Minnesota. My parents are immigrants who never exceeded 11,000 thousand dollars a year in annual income. Without the scholarship, I likely would not have been able to become a journalist.

2. What profession, other than your own, would you like to attempt? What one would you dislike attempting?

I love sports, would love to coach baseball or football or broadcast baseball or football. I could never see myself as a politician; I wonder how most of them can look at themselves in the mirror at the end of the day.

3. 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)?

CNN just gave me an iPod, I have no idea how it works. I’ve never listened to music of any type except background noise; I think it gets in the way of thinking. Never owned a stereo, never watched music videos. No Netflix, more fun to take my kids to blockbuster a block away and roam the isles and then argue at the check-out counter about why they can't get candy. Books: "After Fidel" by Brian Latell and "Quantum Golf, the path to golf mastery" by Kyell Enhager.

4. Please tell us a little about the off camera Rick Sanchez... Your family, hobbies, favorite authors and favorite episodic television.

Four kids, a wife, a dog and two turtles. Nuff said! No seriously, like most people, my life is a balancing act between work and home. Sometimes it's the squeakiest wheel that gets the immediate attention and you just hope that everyone and everything is getting the appropriate attention. I wouldn't trade my blessings for anything, but really, I'm just a dad who spends a part of every day wondering if he's doing right by his family -- while never quite feeling quite like I've nailed it.

5. What are the essentials when traveling to cover a story?

As I sit here and write these answers, I’m sitting in the hotel lobby at the Marriott in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. I’m covering the Rios summit between Latin American presidents, yes; there are other presidents in Latin America besides castor and Chavez. The essential to traveling to cover a story is your crew: a good producer who's organized and a shooter who's technically savvy. If I don't have to think about logistics etc, I’m free to work the story.

6. What's your favorite must have gadget?

TiVo, or DVR or whatever you call it.

7. As a child what was your favorite toy, vacation place and favorite teacher?

When we first came to the U.S. from Cuba, we were so poor my parents could not afford to buy us toys. None! My brother and I found plastic toy soldiers buried in the ground one day and played with them for years, it was our first and most treasured toy collection in America.

8. Live television can be unpredictable -- can you tell us about an on air moment that didn't go quite as planned?

I once transposed a word and embarrassed myself by saying that "ling ling, the panda bear loaned to us by the Chinese republic had gone berserk and (the copy said 'mauled' it's trainer), I said balled his trainer. Oops! I think the floor crew is still rolling around on the ground laughing.

9. What's been your most difficult assignment as a journalist to date?

Covering Cuba and the Castro Revolution. It’s hard to separate the personal from the professional when it's the country you were born in.

10. If you could pick one story from history to cover, what would be your dream story be?

The McCarthy era, I wonder if I would have had the guts to say, “this is wrong.” In many ways I see comparisons to what we're living now.

11. What is your guilty pleasure?

Peanut butter milkshakes and flaming oxtail.

12. Where is your favourite place in the entire world?

Any place where I’m surrounded by my wife and kids. Preferably Christmas morning.

13. 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?

It was decided for me; some professors approached me and said they wanted to recommend me for a broadcast journalism scholarship at the University of Minnesota. They said I had to take a bunch or tests and interviews. They said only three students would be chosen and there were five thousand entrants. I remember telling them it was a waste of time because no body on TV in the U.S. looked like me, they were all white men. I applied, I was chosen and the rest is history.


We want to thank Rick for taking the time to share a bit of himself with us. He's one very interesting guy. I've never had the pleasure of trying flaming oxtail. But if it's a RS favorite maybe we should all give it a try?

We'll be doing this again next week with Kyra Phillips. If you have anyone you'd like to request for an interview or suggestions for questions we'd love to hear from you. ~ Phebe

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.