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T.J. Holmes        

Award-Winning Journalist & National Television Personality

T.J. Holmes is an award-winning journalist and nationally recognized television personality. In September of 2014, Holmes joined ABC News as an anchor/correspondent and contributes daily to "Good Morning America," the most watched network morning program.

Holmes first gained national prominence during his time at CNN. He spent 5 years as anchor of "CNN Saturday/Sunday Morning" where he dominated breaking news events. Holmes anchored the network's coverage of Saddam Hussein’s execution in 2006 and the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India in 2008 and at Glasgow Airport in 2007. He also anchored from Ground Zero to commemorate the emotional 10th Anniversary of the September 11th attacks and covered the historic first papal visit to the United State of Pope Benedict XIV in 2008, including anchoring live from the mass at Yankee Stadium.

Holmes also reported from the scene of some of the most riveting news stories including the devastating Joplin, Missouri tornadoes, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in New Orleans, and the tragic shootings on the Virginia Tech campus in Blackburg, Virginia. He secured some of the first accounts from the survivors of the US Airways Flight 1549 that crash-landed in New York’s Hudson River in January 2009 and reported from the campus of the University of Mississippi during the first presidential debate between Senators John McCain and Barack Obama.

Holmes previously worked as a news anchor at NBC11 in the San Francisco Bay Area. While at NBC, he traveled to Athens, Greece to cover the 2004 Olympics, the first Summer Games held after the September 11th attacks. Holmes also covered numerous other stories that garnered national attention, including the historic recall election of the California governor in 2003 and the double murder trial of Scott Peterson.

Prior to NBC11, Holmes served as a weekend anchor and reporter at KTHV in Little Rock, Arkansas. He started his career at KSNF in Joplin, Missouri.

Holmes is a graduate of the University of Arkansas. He now serves as a member of the Chancellor's Board of Advisers at the University and is on the Board of Visitors at Emory University in Atlanta. He's been an active member of the 100 Black Men of Atlanta and the National Association of Black Journalists.

Speech Topics


Behind the Story with T.J. Holmes

Choices Matter

When the Big Story Happens

T.J. Holmes has covered major breaking news stories: Saddam Hussein’s execution, the rescue of the Chilean miners, the Mumbai terror attacks, and countless other major events of national and international interest. Holmes shares stories of being on the scene when the big story happens.

Crisis

One out of every two black boys is not graduating from high school in the United States. T.J. Holmes questions why the nation is allowing the loss of an entire generation of black boys who, by their 18th birthdays, are doomed to a life of poverty, crime, prison, and death. He discusses why this isn’t being treated as the national crisis that it is and the impact it will have on the black community and this country for years to come.

You Left CNN to Go Where?!?!

Through his own personal and recent experience, Holmes discusses how people have to make difficult decisions, take chances, and learn the lesson of failure when things don't work out as planned. He shares why it's important for people to sacrifice personal comfort for something greater. Audiences will learn they can't always play it safe and what steps they need to take to make things change.

Representing Something Greater Than Yourself

Holmes takes pride in being a native of Arkansas, and knows the importance of everyone remembering that they are always representing something greater than themselves. It's important for everyone to do this, not just people in public life. Whether it's your neighborhood, city, state, parents, university, or employer, how you carry yourself leaves an impression. Holmes teaches audiences on how being an advocate and a representative of things that are vital to them will lead them down a path towards success.

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Being Black in a Corporate Setting

How black can you be at work? What kinds of things can I talk about in the office? How should I wear my hair? How do I dress? These questions may seem ridiculous to a certain degree, but it's a very real issue for African Americans. As they try to make their way up in the corporate world African Americans feel they should assimilate and leave their blackness at the door. Holmes discusses how African Americans can navigate the corporate environment dominated by non-minorities and how managers, businesses, and employees can both benefit from an atmosphere of openness.

Overcoming Adversity

We live in a time where people without talent are gaining fortune and fame through reality shows or by becoming internet sensations. The hunger for instant success is immense. This wasn’t the case for T.J. Holmes. On the surface it would appear that the road Holmes took to earning an anchor chair was paved in gold, but the reality is his journey had obstacles. Holmes shares his personal story of the struggles and challenges that brought him to the point where he feels he cannot lose personally or professionally.

The Weekend Ghetto

T.J. Holmes discusses the challenges minority journalists face in navigating the world of big time network television. In borrowing the phrase the “weekend ghetto” (coined by legendary journalist Carole Simpson) he describes the ongoing debate about African Americans being relegated to weekend positions at networks, and never given a shot at prime time shows. Holmes talks about the need for a broader diversity, not just in front of the camera, but behind the scenes in the ranks of producers, executive producers, and managers – and how that diversity, or lack thereof, has an impact on what stories get told and how.

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News


T.J. Holmes Opens Up On Ending His Relationship With BET And Future Career Plans
Earlier this month BET confirmed the cancellation of their late night news-satire series, “Don’t Sleep,” resulting in the network ending their relationship with show host, T.J. Holmes.
T.J. Holmes ‘Don’t Sleep!’ To Debut On BET
The wait is finally over! Award-winning journalist T.J. Holmes will make his BET debut on Monday (October 1), with the premiere of the network’s late night series, Don’t Sleep!
TJ Holmes Joins ABC News as Co-Anchor of 'America This Morning'
ABC News has named T.J. Holmes co-anchor of “America This Morning” and “ World News Now,” network president James Goldston announced Tuesday.

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