Today we’d like to introduce you to Jonathan Landrum Jr.
Hi Jonathan, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Some kids want to be like Mike. But for myself, I wanted to be like Ed Bradley. Or Gwen Ifill. Or Stephen A. Smith. I’ve wanted to become a writer since I was 11 when my mom hooked me up with a year’s worth of Sports Illustrated for Kids. I loved the two-sided pullout poster with a superstar athlete on each side. I treasured the full-page stub that could be divided into nine sports cards. While being raised in Kansas City, Kansas, I got to read Jason Whitlock, a columnist in the local paper who always kept things stirred up. It was also encouraging to watch New York Times columnist William Rhoden on ESPN’s “Sports Reporters” before heading to church on Sunday. But at the time, there weren’t a lot of role models for someone like me. It was rare to find a Black journalist who had a forum to share his or her opinion. I eventually found my way to Smith who wrote for The Philadelphia Inquirer, Terence Moore with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Michael Wilbon, a writer for the Washington Post. But those of us who are people of color want more. That’s why I keep striving for change and improvement. My career journey as a journalist began after attending Clark Atlanta University, where I played football. I was a mean, hard-hitting fullback. Just ask my coaches. I was also the assistant sports editor for The Panther newspaper.
Several months after my tenure at CAU, I was hired at The Associated Press in Atlanta, where I spent 14 years. This changed my life. I covered everything from religion, news, politics, sports and the entertainment industry. Just like when I was growing up, I found other journalists to admire from Nekesa Mumbi Moody, Oscar Dixon and Paul Newberry. I personally learned from them. I read their stories and had countless conversations with them. I was like a sponge, soaking up all of their wisdom. I learned how to write stories that have never been told before. It helped me become a seasoned entertainment reporter who has become a newsroom leader in Los Angeles at The AP, the largest news organization in the world with a daily reach of 1 billion people. I regularly interview A-list celebrities ranging from Oprah Winfrey, Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert Downey Jr., Tyler Perry, Denzel Washington, Taylor Swift and Stevie Wonder, Jay-Z and Rihanna. My work has appeared in 1,500 different media outlets including the New York Times, Washington Post, Fox News, MTV and ABC News and ESPN. With more than 16 years under my belt, I still have the fire to keep pushing forward. It’s all in the effort to be like Ed. Or Gwen. Or Nekesa.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I faced my biggest challenge in college. I was a student with a poor work ethic, which was not the case while I played sports in high school and college. I was the type of athlete who would routinely workout twice a day. But when it came to my writing in college, I wasn’t putting in the same effort. In result, I flunked basic news writing – twice! My writing was so horrendous that my professor at the time pulled me into her office and suggested I switch to another major. Trust me, that was probably one of the lowest moments in my life. However, I did not take “NO” for an answer. Thanks to my mom’s encouraging words, I kept going, despite the odds. The next time I took news writing, I read more books, magazines and news articles than any time in my life. I wrote every day. I figured if writing was something I was going to pursue, I needed to be all in.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m an Entertainment Writer covering the music, television and film industry for The Associated Press in Los Angeles. I’ve landed exclusive interviews that have received world-wide play including Tyler Perry’s thoughts on Georgia’s “heartbeat” abortion law, Oprah Winfrey’s thoughts about Donald Trump’s presidency and Cardi B having “mixed feelings” about not performing at Super Bowl 53. I have covered some of the biggest events in the world including the Oscars, Grammys, Emmys, SAG Awards and the Super Bowl. I have written timely and insightful stories including the life and death of Nipsey Hussle along with the street art in Los Angeles that commemorated the rapper. I also wrote about how President Barack Obama bridged the gap between hip-hop and politics, how Chadwick Boseman’s death left a saddening mark on a rough 2020 along with Prince Harry and Meghan coverage.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
List five people you want to meet. List five companies you want to work for. Reach out to those people, whether via their company email or LinkedIn. Let them know that their work has influenced you and congratulate their efforts. After you make contact with them, continue to follow up with how you have progressed. Let them know which projects you have worked on lately. A project that aligns with their company’s objectives and needs. Build a relationship over time.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @mrlandrum31
- Twitter: @mrlandrum31
Image Credits:
Jonathan Landrum Jr.
