Today we’d like to introduce you to Rocky Harris.
Rocky, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri. In high school, I wanted to be a psychiatrist, but people told me I was too opinionated. I kind of agreed, so I began soul searching for what I wanted to do for a career. I really loved talking to people, and understanding the way people think, but I also loved sharing and telling stories. I randomly ended up taking a journalism class my senior year and instantly fell in love.
From there, I knew that was the path I wanted to go down and began taking the steps I needed to make that a reality. In 2011, I started my college career at Columbia College Chicago in Chicago where I majored in broadcast journalism with an emphasis in television. While there, I took several practicum classes where I worked as a one-man-band writing original Chicago news stories daily. I also did live and taped broadcasts for my college news programs.
My experience and education allowed me to gain several internships. In my sophomore year of college, I bagged an internship at KCPT-PBS while simultaneously working a radio show internship with KKFI. Both were in KCMO. From there I worked a local Chicago talk show called “Windy City LIVE.” And then ended my college career working for “The Judge Mathis Show.”
At both Windy City Live and The Judge Mathis show, I was promoted from intern to production assistant. Right after graduating, I moved to Los Angeles to pursue my dreams as an on-camera journalist and personality. I only had about $900, but my grandmother gave me an extra $1,000 just days before I flew to LA. A year before moving to LA I told my line sister (sorority sister) that I’d be staying on her couch until when I could find a place.
My work ethic and amazing relationship with a Warner Bros. exec landed me a job right, well six months after, out of college at the daytime talk show “The Real” where I worked in the girl chat segment and occasionally appeared on camera as a model for producers. I took a job with Dr. Phil but was extremely depressed while working there, and started looking for jobs working as an on-camera talent.
I ended up applying for a host position at AfterBuzz TV, but the audition schedule conflicted with Dr, Phil’s. I took a leap of faith and chose my hosting career. Since then, I have had the pleasure of revisiting The Real to interview the hosts and covered a wide variety of carpets such as the SAG Awards, Peoples Choice Awards, Writers Guild Awards and more. Some of my favorite interviews have been Angela Bassett, J.K. Simmons, Donald Glover, Dave Chappelle, and others.
In addition to covering red carpets, I also write full time for digital news platform Baller Alert Inc. They saw my original stories on my personal blog and brought me over. I produce original content and write at least five news stories a day.
Now, I’m working towards producing my own content in a vlog titled “The Life and Times of a Red Carpet Reporter with Rocky Harris,” which will give my followers a behind the scenes look at my life as a journalist. I’ll be revamping and bringing back my other vlog “Raquel Conveys” which is pretty much just me ranting and giving my opinion on daily news and social issues.
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?
No… it has not. The journey towards anything is hard, and I’ve accepted that.
At one point during my career, I almost lost my apartment, because I wasn’t making enough money and couldn’t find a steady job. This was after leaving The Real and after leaving Dr. Phil. I’ve endured working with awful people who exploit and disrespect their employees and have experienced sexism and sexual harassment during one hosting audition.
Thankfully, I’ve had a strong tribe that has helped get through all my trials and tribulations. Hollywood is exactly as it appears in media today. But there are a lot of great people in the industry.
Please tell us about Baller Alert. What are you most proud of and what sets you apart from the others?
I am my own brand. I pride myself on being your “homegirl journalist” The only reporter you’ll meet that is extremely well-versed, researched and excited about all her interviews. I’m funny, articulate and I love what I do from writing, producing and broadcasting.
I’m proud of my accomplishes, the connections I’ve made never giving up. I feel like that’s hella easy to do in a congested city like LA. I’ve had my thoughts though, and it’s been hard especially being so far away from home. I miss my family and childhood friends often. It’s really hard to stay focused.
I think me being me sets me apart. There are tons of journalists but only one Rocky Harris. I’d like to think my passion for what I report makes me unique. Some people report news stories, but they become my stories.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Not paying bills. Honestly. In reality, I’d love to just have no worries and live my life on a tropical island as a vegan. That would be great. Sign me up for the life Adam and Eve had asap. To think we could have all been vegan, slim and walking with Jesus in the Garden of Eden, in a land where there is no war or form of violence. (Sighs). Such is life.
Back to reality – I really miss the time I spent in Oklahoma as a child. I love open spaces with the least amount of people as possible. Ironic, since my job is talking to people. But I’m a true ambivert. I love people, but I REALLY love being alone. I need to be around my own energy at some point during the day for my own sanity.
But yeah, traveling to Oklahoma to see all my cousins was amazing. We used to go to the rodeo, ride four-wheelers, horses and dirt bikes, and visit my aunt’s convenient store. What makes me the happiest is a simple life. No drama, no complications. Just transparency and clarity.
Contact Info:
- Website: RaquelHarrisTV.com (Under construction)
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @RaquelHarrisTV
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RaquelHarrisTV/
- Twitter: @RaquelHarrisTV
Image Credit:
Jordan Ring
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