Story

John Paul

Morning, Noon Anchor

Tuesday, March 18, 2008 – updated: 11:11 am EDT June 25, 2008

BIO

I was never an early riser, but now I’m adjusting to life as a morning anchor. You can see me on News Center 7 Daybreak weekdays alongside Natasha Williams and Jeff Porter. So if you're up between 5 and 8 in the morning, tune in.

I joined the News Center 7 team in March of 2008, after working for more than two years at WTOV, our sister station in Steubenville, Ohio. I worked as a reporter and weekend anchor there, and it's where I really learned what it’s like working in the news, and how much I loved it.

My career began in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the town where I grew up. I earned a bachelor's degree in Journalism, with a minor in Political Science from Western Michigan University. After graduating, I got a job at WWMT, the local news station. I started out behind the camera as a production assistant, where I did things like run the camera in the studio, operate the audio board and assist reporters in the newsroom. After 5 years, I realized I wanted to move in front of the cameras.

Working at WWMT changed my life in more ways than one. It's where I met Kimm, my beautiful wife, in 2001. We’ve been together ever since, and were married in June of 2008. We’re looking forward to settling down in Dayton.

When I’m not anchoring the morning news, you’ll probably find me playing at a bowling alley, walking with my wife in Oakwood, or devouring omelets at the Golden Nugget. I’m also really getting into the Dayton Dragons. If you see me out and about feel free to stop me and chat. You can also E-mail me at john.paul@whiotv.com.

Q & A

Where were you born?
Aurora, Ill.

Where did you grow up?
Kalamazoo, MI

What was your favorite TV show then?
The Simpsons

What was the first thing you ever wanted to be?
A cowboy

How might someone have described you in high school?
Kind of a trouble-maker.

What was your first job?
A paperboy.

What was your first job in television?
Community Access Center in Kalamazoo. I was a master control operator.

What do you like about your job?
I love the fact that I get to do something different every day. It never gets boring.

What do you not like about your job?
Deadlines.

What might people be surprised to know about you?
I skateboard.

What is the hardest thing you ever did?
I carried a canoe over my head while walking uphill on rocky terrain for a half mile. It's called portaging, and I did it while canoeing boundary waters.

What would be a perfect day for you?
A perfect day for me would take place at my parent's cottage in South Haven, Michigan. My whole family would be there. We would have a cook out and then go swimming in Lake Michigan. Then end the night sitting around a bonfire.

What advice would you have for someone wanting to go into the business?
I would tell someone to follow the news! Read newspapers, watch your local news and the cable news networks. It is essential to know what is going on in the world around you.

If you could only keep one 5-minute tape from your career what would be on it?
It would definitely include the story I did while working in Steubenville about how the city smelled like human excrement. That was a very creative story. I would also include a story I did on a soldier memorial dedication in Brooke County, WV. I would also put the story I did about a couple who posted a sign on their window that said “My neighbor is a child molester”. They posted it because their neighbor was on the sex offender registry. .