Today we’d like to introduce you to Nick Sturdivant.
Nick, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’m from High Point, NC. I went to High Point University, where I studied journalism. I started doing everything from working at the campus radio station to covering some college sports. I eventually landed an internship at WGHP FOX8 in High Point. Worked my way up as a studio production assistant with the station. I was continued to work on my on-aircraft in my downtime and eventually landed my first on-air reporter job at WBTW in Myrtle Beach. I worked there for 2 1/2 years as a bureau reporter in Florence, SC. I would come back to WGHP in 2016 and work as a reporter. I spent two years there and in 2018 landed the job in Atlanta at 11Alive News.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely tough starting out! I struggled to pay for college, but I received my determination from my Mom, who raised me as a single mother. When I landed the job at WBTW in SC, I had $400 in my bank account and had to move in with my older brother and his family, who lives in Summerville, SC (outside of Charleston). I commuted 4 hours (eventually three hours when I was assigned to the Florence bureau) 5 days a week from my brother’s home to the station. But also coming up there was and still not a lot of diversity in newsrooms so I’m working to find my voice and use it in a way to tell stories.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I’m a reporter at WXIA 11Alive. I work on the morning show. So, I’m up at 2:30 am and I usually back home and settled by 1 pm. I cover a wide range of stories from crime, politics and community-based stories. I’m proud that we are able to give the community a voice some times gets overshadowed. I think what sets me apart is that I don’t like to say I’m doing interviews. Rather it’s me having a conversation with that person or people no matter how long that conversation is. My stories are like my babies. I write to them with facts and love.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
For this job, you definitely have to have tough skin. I’m in the business of criticism and viewers are often our toughest critics. You also have to be empathetic and be able to shake these off easily. So much happens during the day that you have to take a step back and take a deep breath a lot of times.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.11alive.com/article/about-us/team-bios/85-589497899
- Email: nsturdivant@11alive.com or nicholassturdivant@yahoo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nick_sturdivant/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NickSturdivantTV
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/N_SturdivantTV
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