Eric Thomas
I grew up in the Midwest, with dreams of becoming an engineer and pilot. But, I got my first taste of broadcasting in high school at our ten watt radio station and from then on I was hooked. In college I worked at two different radio stations doing everything from turning on the transmitter Sunday mornings, to spinning records, writing news and even reading the obituaries on air. That latter job may sound macabre, but the switchboard would light up if we didn't do them, or if we mispronounced a name. After college, I got a job writing radio news at the princely sum of $4.50 per hour. It was a great experience. I learned how to write breaking news and long form stories that looked into the deeper issues of crime and poverty, and sports versus education. I worked with some of the best broadcasters in the business and picked their brains for every bit of information about our industry. Fortunately, they were more than willing to help and I can't thank them enough.
In 1989 I took my first TV job in St. Louis working midnight to 6 a.m., doing 30 second live news cut-ins at the top of every hour. It wasn't glamorous, but it got my foot in the door. After six months of volunteering to go out on every story, and do every interview, and generally making a pest of myself, I was hired full-time; undoubtedly just to shut me up.
In 1994, I joined ABC7, and it has been a dream come true. My family simply loves the Bay Area and I love working with the professionals that make ABC7, one of America's best sources of news and information; and believe me only professionals should see each other without make-up at 3:30 in the morning. That's when we arrive to prepare for the ABC7 Morning News. The newscast is as fresh and fun now as it was when I joined the program in 1996.
BTW, when I'm not on the air I'm probably buried in some history book or out throwing a football around with my kids.
I enjoy reading your comments, almost as much as I enjoy a good book. Find me on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter.
Eric Thomas is a reporter and weekend anchor for ABC7 News. He also reports on aviation and the military.
Archive
DID YOU HEAR THEM? From the Financial District to the Embarcadero to Crissy Field, the rock stars of Fleet Week made their presence felt. It was just a rehearsal for the Blue Angels, but people were mesmerized anyway.
"She had her whole life ahead of her. I will never see her get married. I will never see her with children." A Livermore mother is grieving after her 16-year-old daughter died of an apparent opioid overdose
"Studying the Constitution, talking about the importance of civility and the decent civil discourse, that's necessary if the Constitution is to survive." The retired Supreme Court justice Brett Kavanaugh aims to replace was in Sacramento talking to kids about the constitution.
What is a rocket doing in the Bay Area? A mysterious rocket has been spotted in Alameda.
"It's sad, a shame, scary." Word that the man who lives in the house with the well-manicured lawn and white picket fence is accused of being a serial rapist has thrown neighbors for a loop.
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